The City of Boston and several financial partners awarded $5 million in grants to community organizations in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan Monday to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in those neighborhoods by 2035.

Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston says the areas are the ones with the largest health disparities in Boston. A 2023 report by the Boston Public Health Commission found that a census tract in Roxbury had an average life expectancy 23 years less than a census tract 2 miles away in Back Bay.

Ojikutu said the disparity is the result of decades of community disinvestment, racial and systemic inequities.

“Closing this gap will require new collaboration. It will require stronger partnerships. And it will require deeper investment in social determinants of health, like economic mobility,” she said.

Under the new grants – part of the city’s “Live Long and Well” program – The 12 organizations will form four coalitions to work on specific issues.

For example, Upham’s Community Care, Dorchester Food Co-op and Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation will expand mobile outreach vans offering primary care, food access, and financial coaching to residents.

Darian Leta, President of the Dorchester Food Co-op board says the organization offered some of these services on a smaller scale and that this is a much larger initiative. She says she is feeling great to see “Community leaders leading the charge” – but in a coordinated fashion.

“Boston is notorious for having all these different places doing the same thing. Why can’t we get together as a coalition to be able to get these resources together?” she said.

The funding comes from Atrius Health Equity Foundation, which has committed $10 million for two rounds of round of grants. A second round that will be awarded in 2028. “The $10 million that the Atrius Health Equity Foundation has committed here is really groundbreaking. It’s an investment in Boston’s future.” Ojikutu said.

The projects also include organizations working on English instruction and career training, housing and credit support and financial literacy programs.

Mayor Michellle Wu said the projects illustrate that health equity goes beyond health care alone. “It means investing in what makes people healthy. Housing, access to nutritious food, economic mobility,” she said.

The groups will be given $200,000 to begin their work and the rest of the money will be distributed over the next two years.