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**Honoring the Past, Building a Healthier Future: A Juneteenth Reflection** As we commemorate Juneteenth, remember the ongoing fight for health equity for African Americans in the US. Historic health disparities, like alarming maternal mortality rates, expose systemic issues that demand our continuing attention! ❣ We honor the work of ancestors who persevered through emancipation, discrimination, and immense challenges to build strong communities. Their resilience lives on in the vibrant spirit, people, and organizations we see in many underserved communities today. 📣 But the fight isn't over. Remember AFTER Juneteenth to: ➡ Demand change: Advocate for policies that address racial bias in healthcare and ensure all communities have access to quality care. ➡ Amplify Black voices: Support Black healthcare professionals, researchers, community leaders, and organizations working to dismantle health disparities. ➡ Educate ourselves: Learn more about the history of racism in healthcare and ongoing efforts to achieve equity. Find an organization in YOUR community to partner with. ❣ Together, we can build healthcare systems that better serve everyone. #Juneteenth #HealthEquity #BlackHealthMatters #CommunityStrength

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth! We honor the resilience and freedom of Black Americans and reflect on the ongoing fight for racial justice in this country and abroad. This day should remind us of the progress made and the work still needed to be done. I propose that achieving health equity is a crucial part of the work still needed to be done. The legacy of systemic racism continues to impact health outcomes for Black communities, manifesting in higher rates of chronic diseases, lower life expectancy, and limited access to quality healthcare. To bridge this gap, we must: - Expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. - Address social and legal determinants of health affecting housing, education, employment, etc. - Promote health literacy and empower communities with knowledge. - Combat implicit bias in healthcare and promote diversity. - Support research and data collection to inform targeted interventions. Achieving health equity requires a collective effort from policymakers, healthcare providers, community leaders, and individuals. As we commemorate Juneteenth, let us commit to dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate health disparities and take meaningful steps towards a more just and equitable society! #Juneteenth #HealthEquity #RacialEquity #SocialJustice #PublicHealth

It's the final week of #BlackHistoryMonth, and today we're talking about cultural safety for #BlackElders. Creating cultural safety for aging Black individuals means honoring their unique experiences, respecting their wisdom, and ensuring their dignity is always upheld. Cultural safety for Black elders is paramount for ensuring their well-being and dignity as they age. Recognizing and respecting Black communities' unique cultural experiences, traditions, and values is essential in providing effective and compassionate care. Black elders have often faced systemic racism, discrimination, and historical trauma throughout their lives, which can impact their health outcomes and access to quality care. By creating culturally safe environments, healthcare providers and caregivers can foster trust, communication, and mutual understanding, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of life for aging Black individuals. Cultural safety also means addressing Black elders' specific needs and preferences, including access to culturally relevant resources, support networks, and healthcare services. Embracing cultural safety acknowledges Black elders' resilience and contributions and promotes equity and social justice in aging care. #BHM2024 #BlackHistoryMonth2024 #BHM #BlackandAging #AgingCulturalSafety #AgingWithDignity #BlackExcellence

Happy Juneteenth! Today, as we celebrate freedom and Black resilience, let's also acknowledge the sobering reality of health inequities in the US. Black Americans, indigenous communities, and other people of color continue to experience disproportionate health burdens due to: Limited access to quality healthcare: Geographic barriers, cultural insensitivity, and implicit bias can hinder access to preventive care and treatment. Social determinants of health: Factors like housing insecurity, economic instability have a significant impact on health outcomes. As the great civil rights leaders declared, "none of us are free until all of us are free." Let's use Juneteenth as a springboard for collective action towards racial and social equity in health. #Juneteenth #HealthEquity #SDoH

During Black History Month, while we celebrate the achievements and resilience of Black Americans, we must also confront the current health inequities that underscore the urgent need for action. African American women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a glaring example of the racial inequities in healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed and exacerbated these inequities, with Black Americans experiencing higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death. These inequities are not just numbers; they represent lives, families, and communities that are disproportionately affected due to systemic barriers and longstanding structural racism. This is unjust and must change. This month, let us commit to understanding these inequities and advocating for change. By focusing on oppressive structures that unfairly distribute the social determinants of health and addressing the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, and play, we can move toward closing these health inequities and ensure everyone can be as healthy as possible. #HealthEquityNow #BlackLivesMatter #COVID19 #FightRacism #TogetherForHealth #EquityInAction #BlackHistoryMonth #HealthForAll #HMPRG #BlackHistoryMonth2024 #SocialJustice #HealthEquityIllinois #HealthyChicago

Just finished a profoundly moving read featuring Uché Blackstock, MD, a true G.O.A.T in discussing how weathering impacts Black people's health. Her ability to explain complex issues with such clarity and brevity is nothing short of remarkable. Here are three eye-opening takeaways that everyone needs to reflect on: 1️⃣ Generational Health Decline: It's striking to learn that Black immigrants initially match the health status of white Americans upon arrival. Yet, within a generation or two, their health deteriorates to match that of Black Americans. This stark decline isn't a reflection on Black individuals but a damning indictment of the systemic issues they face in the U.S. 2️⃣ Birthing While Black: In 2024, it's inexplicable and unacceptable that giving birth as a Black person is riskier than it was two decades ago. This tragic reality underscores the deep-seated racism ingrained in our society. 3️⃣ A Battle for Care: The fact that seeking medical care feels like going into battle for Black women, especially during their most vulnerable moments, is a failure of our healthcare system. It's unjust and should not be the burden of those needing support and compassion. Dr. Blackstock's insights are a compelling call to action for everyone to understand the systemic injustices affecting Black people's health. Highly recommend giving this article a read—it's enlightening, relatable, and a testament to Dr. Blackstock's impactful work. Article Link in comments. #blacklivesmatter #blackhistorymonth #unitedstates #healthcare #racialjustice #racialequity #healthequity

On Juneteenth, we not only celebrate the Black American experience, but also reflect on the many inequities and disparities facing this community that still exist today - specifically in healthcare. Meridian has made significant strides in working to close healthcare gaps by improving access to care through expanded networks, partnering with community events that bring clinical professionals directly to underserved areas, and volunteering at food banks/food distribution events to help members receive staples that provide proper nutrition. Health equity is and will remain a major focus of our work at Meridian and while progress has been made, Juneteenth should serve as a reminder that there is still more to be done. #Juneteenth #HealthEquity

#juneteenth #equityforall #allyship I always feel somewhat conflicted about the notion of "celebrating" Juneteenth. Because for all the hope that this milestone moment represented, we have still fallen well short in delivering against those promises for the Black community. In fact, it's deeply concerning to see ongoing efforts around the world to disenfranchise communities of color - as well as other historically disadvantaged groups - and roll back many of the protections that were put in place to create greater equity and inclusion. This Juneteenth, let us all redouble our efforts to ensure that our work is not performative, but a true lifelong commitment. Particularly in the face of bigotry, racism, and hatred, we must not shrink from the moment but use our collective voices to advocate for a more just society. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, "It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, 'Wait on time'.” That time is now. As one of the world’s most diverse destinations, Black culture and community have grown and flourished here in our City of Angels. At Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, we strive to continually uplift Black voices and support initiatives that promote justice and equality. Because we view diversity, equity, and inclusion as verbs - not nouns - and we recognize that intent must be met with action and impact across every aspect of our organization. This Juneteenth - and year-round - we invite Angelenos and visitors alike to visit and support the hundreds of Black-owned businesses across LA. For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/gXyHhJb4 https://lnkd.in/gtY6cUd8

Today, as we recognize #Juneteenth, we’re reflecting on the significant progress that has been made in the fight for racial justice and equality in America, as well as the critical work that still lies ahead of us in building a more equitable and healthier future for Black Americans. We know the important role that #ValueBasedCare plays in eliminating disparities in our healthcare system, which is why we’re committed to building a new, sustainable primary care model that will improve #HealthEquity and access to care across the United States.

On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. It wasn't until June 19, 1865, however, that freedom finally came. The proclamation could not be applied to places still under Confederate control, and as a result, enslaved people in Texas would not be free until Union troops arrived in 1865 to announce the executive decree. This day, June 19, is now honored as Juneteenth, #FreedomDay, or Jubilee Day. The impacts of slavery in the United States still linger today as we face the attacks on racial justice work, the banning of books telling our history, the disparities in health care, the persistent wage gaps, and more. These injustices are exactly what organizations like The Winters Group and our fellow DEIJ practitioners are solving. Today, as we honor #Juneteenth, we encourage you to find ways to center equity and justice in your life. For Black folks, make space for rest, peace, joy, and wellness today. For non-Black folks, let this be a day of reflection. Consider how you can create more safety and equity for Black people in your lives, workplaces, and communities. As Mareisha N. Reese wrote on The Inclusion Solution, make an intentional commitment to what we call the 4-E Model™: exposure, experience, education, and empathy. What are you doing to honor Juneteenth today? Share in the comments! #LiberationDay #EmancipationDay #JuneteenthCelebration