YOU. ARE. AMAZING.
You care about promoting racial justice and health equity … and this Action Pack can help you!
Our team at Salud America!, led by Dr. Amelie Ramirez of UT Health San Antonio, wants to support your journey to understanding the impact of racism on public health and advancing healing and health equity.
This 4-step action pack has the tools you will need to help you get your elected officials declare racism a public health crisis and commit to meaningful policy and system change!
Before You Start…
Check out these materials:
💬 FAQs. Why is racism a public health crisis? How can a resolution help? Etc.
📔 Guidebook: Framing Health Inequities in the Context of Systemic Racism. This guide will help you understand how to frame health inequities in the context of systemic racism.
📰 Read a Case Study. Government employees in Buncombe County, N.C., collaborated across sectors to pass resolutions to declare racism a public health and public safety crisis.
📣 Technical Assistance. All of our action pack coaches, Alyssa Gonzales, Catherine Wilson, and Cliff Despres, can answer questions and help customize materials for you. Email us: saludamerica@uthscsa.edu.
Step 1: Connect with Community Advocates about Local Racism and Health Equity
Use our model email & talking points to engage racial/ethnic organizations, social justice groups, public health agencies, and others to share information and listen.
📔 Find Community Advocates (PDF)
📨 Email Community Advocates (Word)
🗣 Talking Points (PDF)
Step 2: Create a Working Draft of a Resolution to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis
Use our guidebooks to help you and other community leaders explore language and strategic actions to consider when drafting parts of the resolution.
📔 Guidebook: Considerations in Drafting a Resolution.
📔 Guidebook: Framing Health Inequities in the Context of Systemic Racism.
Step 3: Ask Local Leaders to Take Action for a Resolution to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis
Use our model email and social media messages to ask your elected officials to consider your draft resolution and ultimately adopt a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis and commit to policy and system change.
📔 Find Your Local Leaders’ Contact Info. After locating your local city, county, or other leaders, you may have to Google specific names to find an email address.
📨 Email to Local Officials (Word)
📰 Social Media Messages (PDF)
Step 4: Build Community Support for a Resolution to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis
Use our sample email and social media messages to build community support for a resolution and commitment to action.
📨 Email Community Supporters (PDF)
📰 Social Media Messages (Word)
Get Help Anytime!
All of our action pack coaches, Alyssa Gonzales, Catherine Wilson, and Cliff Despres, can answer questions and help customize materials for you. Email us: saludamerica@uthscsa.edu.
And at the end of your efforts, we will promote your progress on our national website among our other Salud Heroes!
Look to the Future!
And you don’t have to stop here, either.
Salud America! also has an action pack to help you start a “Handle With Care” program in your area.
Handle with Care enables police to notify schools when they encounter children at a traumatic scene, so schools can provide support right away, even if support is virtual while schools are closed for summer or a pandemic.