Dartmouth Health’s Post

During this Black History Month, let's not solely commemorate the past but also pledge to dismantle the systems that persist in impeding progress. Learning more about systemic racism and confronting the past is a step towards a brighter future. Check out this article from UMADAOP on confronting systemic racism in Franklin County: https://ow.ly/je8k50QFzPe

Championing Change: The Black Policy Institute’s Commitment to Empowering Our Communities At the Black Policy Institute (TBPI), we are dedicated to driving transformative change in Black communities across the nation. Our mission is rooted in the belief that effective policy advocacy, comprehensive research, and community engagement can pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive society. By addressing these challenges, we not only uplift Black communities but also contribute to the well-being of all communities. Here are some of our key initiatives: Policy Advocacy and Research We work tirelessly to influence public policy for the betterment of Black communities through rigorous research and strong advocacy efforts. Economic Empowerment We foster entrepreneurship, create job opportunities, and enhance financial literacy to build a resilient and thriving economic base for Black communities, which in turn strengthens the overall economy. Education and Workforce Development TBPI advocates for educational reforms and provides workforce development programmes to ensure equitable access to quality education and job skills, benefiting the broader workforce. Health and Wellness We address health disparities, promote mental health awareness, and support community health initiatives to ensure access to quality healthcare for all, leading to healthier communities nationwide. Community Development TBPI is involved in community development projects that enhance the quality of life in Black neighbourhoods, from affordable housing to cultural enrichment programmes, creating stronger, more vibrant communities for everyone. Leadership and Representation We aim to increase Black representation in leadership positions across various sectors, believing that diverse leadership leads to more inclusive and effective decision-making, which positively impacts all communities. Civic Engagement We encourage voter education and participation, empowering individuals to engage in the civic process and fostering a stronger, more democratic society for all. Join Us in Making a Difference We invite you to join our mission to create lasting change. By working together to address these challenges, we can build a brighter future for Black communities and improve the well-being of all communities everywhere. #BlackPolicyInstitute #PolicyAdvocacy #EconomicEmpowerment #EducationReform #HealthEquity #CriminalJusticeReform #CommunityDevelopment #Leadership #CivicEngagement #BlackExcellence #Inclusion #Equity #SocialJustice #Empowerment

JUNE 12th - Passing along the information for our next offering in the APA-KY Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webinar series, and in honor of the upcoming programming surrounding Juneteenth: Acknowledging Systematic Displacement in Black Communities. June 12, 2024, 12-1pm Eastern 1 Equity AICP CM   Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://lnkd.in/ec9rTevK Webinar ID: 842 2812 4783 Passcode: 221302   This online panel discussion will focus on: Acknowledging the historical and present-day impact of systematic displacement on black communities. Emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing these issues within planning and development processes.   Points of discussion will include: Systematic Displacement: using historical examples of how black families were displaced under the guise of development, and what were the long-term effects on black communities, including loss of wealth, cultural heritage, and social cohesion. Equitable Change in Planning Processes: examining recommendations for ensuring equitable decision-making in planning processes, including the importance of community engagement, representation, and transparency in decision-making, and highlighting the need for policies that prioritize the well-being and preservation of historically marginalized communities. Historically Black Neighborhoods Ordinance: discussing the concept and implementation of ordinances aimed at protecting historically black neighborhoods and their potential impact on preserving cultural heritage and preventing displacement. Planning and Zoning Laws: addressing recommendations for county officials to ensure planning and zoning laws do not disproportionately affect black communities, and discussing strategies for promoting affordable housing, preventing gentrification, and preserving community assets.   Our panel will include: Mikal Forbush, Executive Director at Center For Neighborhoods Bobby Boone, Founder + Chief Strategist of &Access Rev. Richard Fowler, Pastor of 9th St. Baptist Church, Covington, KY Kareem Simpson, Planning Commissioner, Kenton County, KY (Moderator)

Celebrating Juneteenth! + Amplifying incredible changemakers. Today we join hands in commemorating Juneteenth, a pivotal moment in American history that marks the end of slavery in the United States. This day, also known as Freedom Day, serves as a powerful reminder of the journey toward equity and justice—a journey that continues in all corners of our world to this day. At We Are For Good, our community of changemakers is rooted in our shared core beliefs that Everyone Matters + Community is Everything. Values that both resonate + honor the spirit of Juneteenth. We celebrate the freedom of Black Americans and lock arms together in the enduring fight for a more just and equitable society. Looking for a ONE GOOD THING on Juneteenth? Would you join us in honoring + amplifying the work of some of the incredible justice-fighting, Black-led organizations and founders in our community? Help us tag changemakers + organizations, below! And use this as an opportunity to lean in + help amplify these organizations in a way that’s meaningful to you. Monique Parker- Murchison - founder of Little Bit of Good - bringing capacity building to Black-led organizations + bringing to light the funding inequities across the sector today. Gloria Umanah - founder of the Hope Booth, who is pioneering a movement where no one goes unseen by making hope and help accessible free and accessible to every single person on the planet for the first time in history, fully backed by science. Sixto Cancel - founder of Think of Us, who is driving systems change in child welfare, working across tech, service delivery, research and data, and state and federal policy to improve outcomes for youth and families. Sharing is caring. Help us tag other incredible changemakers here in solidarity + support. Happy Juneteenth, friends.

Juneteenth is a momentous day in our nation's history. This day commemorates the moment when the last enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation. But it's also a stark reminder of the long journey towards racial justice that persists to this day. At A New Leaf, we stand in unwavering solidarity with our Black community members as we honor the significance of Juneteenth. We acknowledge that the struggle for civil rights and equality continues and are dedicated to being part of the solution. Juneteenth is not just a celebration; it's an opportunity to reflect on the systemic disparities that persist. We recognize that Black communities still face significant challenges in areas like education, employment, and housing. These disparities are a stark reality, and they deeply affect the lives of individuals and families. A New Leaf is committed to actively addressing these disparities. We provide critical services that bridge gaps, from educational support to employment assistance and affordable housing solutions. Our mission is to ensure that every person has the opportunity to break free from the trap of inequality, poverty, and other challenges. This Juneteenth, let us not only celebrate the progress we've made but also reflect on the work that remains. A New Leaf is dedicated to creating a community where racial injustice is confronted and where every individual has access to support. Happy Juneteenth!

As we celebrate Black History Month this year, I would love to segment the celebration into sections that both acknowledge the historical successes and advocacy to measure moving forward. These sections include Policies, Equity, Achievements, Commitment, and Equality (PEACE). Each year, we should be able as a City and/or State to review how we advanced PEACE to improve the progress of Black residents and businesses. For instance, how Committed are we to improving affordable housing in predominately Black communities in an impactful way? Not just one-off projects here and there but truly seeking to reduce the housing shortage with new construction units, renovations, increasing housing vouchers, keeping people in their homes, etc... By what percentage did we improve these housing conditions? 5%? 10%? Did we successfuly Achieve reducing or eliminating food, health, and pharmacy deserts? By what percentage? For which neighborhoods? Did we improve the Equity allocation in our procurement contracts to Black-owned companies? So if in 2023, Black-owned companies received 5% of the total City contracts, we should be able to report that Black-owned companies increased from 5% to 10% in 2024. How many lead projects? How are we closing the racial wealth gap? By how much from year-to-year? So this time next year (February 2025) for Black History Month, we can report the State of Black Progress in Chicago and Illinois. We celebrate the successes of Black individual achievements. However, we also have to celebrate achievements and advancements that impacts the collective Black group/communities. I am not advocating for any racial group to be at the bottom. However, for once in our lifetime, Black Chicago (residents and businesses) would like to lead a positive socioeconomic category and not always the negative (i.e. crime, homelessness, homeownership, unemployment, food and health insecurity, etc) or be at the very bottom. https://lnkd.in/eSxpDVnn

RESPECT The Haven Community Development Corporation is collaborating with the Center For Transforming Communities on their public health initiative. Advocating for equitable public health policies and programs in communities of color to improve the physical, mental, spiritual and social well being of the black community. We are attending a powerful Measuring Love training. Basically asking how do you measure and show love to the black community. While going through this training I thought about the Black Code of Conduct that RESPECT The Haven CDC has adopted for our 95 percent Black community of Whitehaven. Dr. Claud Anderson, author of Powernomics, The National Plan To Empower Black America says every Black community should adopt a Code of Conduct. How we will love each other, care for each other and support each other. RESPECT The Haven CDC believes by following these rules of conduct we will grow in LOVE and RESPECT for one another. My question to you is how do you measure love?

Does your organization or community recognize a Black Health Week? As part of Black History Month, plenty of organizations look at disparities in heart health, diabetes, maternal health, and other areas. But when it comes to a standardized, national recognition of Black wellbeing and health, those designations tend to fall across the calendar year. Booker T. Washington founded National Negro Health Week in 1915, which eventually turned into National Minority Health Month in April. Washington state just formally recognized Black Wellness Week, which will also be held in April. However, Connecticut celebrates Black Wellness Week in September. Other areas have carved out a piece of February as African American Health Week, and still others have theirs in May. Florida typically holds Black Wellness events in October. Every opportunity to talk about health and wellness and solving inequities is great, of course. But a nationally standardized recognition of Black health could: ~ shine a bigger and more focused spotlight on health disparities in Black communities ~ foster collaboration between organizations on sustainable health equity projects ~ blend grassroots advocacy with federal policy How did your healthcare organization celebrate Black History Month? Do you have a designated week focusing on Black health and wellness? https://lnkd.in/gYHgVu5G #blackhistorymonth #blackhealthmatters #healthinequalities #healthjustice

“If you’re not in service to others, you’re doing a disservice to yourself.” This is Jeannie’s philosophy — one that’s guided her to a career that she considers her higher calling. As Manager of Health Equity in our Child Health Advocacy Institute, Jeannie works to influence positive health outcomes for our patients and families, with a focus on dismantling the institutional racism and care disparities that exist in our country’s healthcare system. This work is critically important, because in Colorado and across the U.S., Black parents and babies die at higher rates than other racial and ethnic groups. Under Jeannie’s leadership, Children’s Hospital Colorado formed the Black Health Initiative (BHI), a program designed to reduce infant mortality rates and improve the healthcare experience for Black families. The program focuses on four areas of impact: Building social connection between Black families and community resources; educating team members and community providers about existing health disparities; advocating for policy changes to improve health outcomes for all Coloradans; and building better relationships between patients and healthcare providers. To advance that last pillar, Jeannie helped facilitate an innovative partnership between BHI and the University of Colorado School of Medicine to train healthcare providers and clinical team members on recognizing implicit bias and providing culturally responsive care for Black families. Through simulated scenarios, providers learn to recognize the challenges that Black patients face in clinical settings and how to bridge the gaps to provide better healthcare experiences. But her work doesn’t stop there. Jeannie is also the driving force behind Kindred Mamas, a mentorship program that matches young Black mothers with women who look like them and have walked a similar path. It’s a program that’s dear to Jeannie’s heart. “It’s a calling more than it’s a job,” she says. “We’re supporting young mamas in navigating and insisting on equitable healthcare for their children and ultimately helping them keep themselves and their babies alive.” The impact these programs have had on the lives of Black parents and babies is huge, Jeannie says. But the work has impacted her, as well. “Knowing that I can indirectly touch the life of a mama or patient and direct their path toward healthier outcomes, is one step toward standing up the community voice we promised to honor.” Learn more about the Black Health Initiative and Kindred Mamas: https://bit.ly/48BLkxt

✊🏿 Black History Month is a time to reflect and honor the accomplishments, contributions, and challenges Black individuals have faced throughout history. ⏲️ It is also a time to think about what we are doing now to create a more hopeful and equitable future for our kids. 🌠 Here are 4 ways we are empowering Black youth today, so they can become tomorrow's leaders.