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Racism is a public health crisis.
Decades of racism-infused social, economic, and political systems have led to inequitable communities for Black, Latino, and other people of color, who face high burdens of stress, disease, and premature death.
You can help local leaders declare racism a public health crisis and commit to change!
Download the free action pack, “Create a Meaningful Resolution on Racism as a Public Health Crisis,” from the Salud America! Latino health equity national program at UT Health San Antonio.
The action pack will help you connect with local advocates of color, draft a resolution, start a conversation with local leaders, and build support for a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis and take action for more equitable policies and practices.
“A resolution to declare racism a public health crisis can help local leaders identify and equitably change policies and practices across the board with input from community social justice advocates,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, director of the Salud America! program and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, who created the new action pack with input from national justice advocates. “This can be an important first step toward lasting, meaningful change to improve health equity for people of color.”
Why Create a Meaningful Resolution on Racism as a Public Health Crisis?
Over 200 cities and government leaders across the country have made this declaration and committed to action, and dozens more are discussing it.
These resolutions make a clear declaration that racism is a public health crisis or emergency. Most also reference policy with a commitment to assess existing policy or procedure. Or they advocate for new or updated policies that improve health in communities of color.
Read more at salud.to/racismmap.
How Can You Create a Meaningful Resolution on Racism as a Public Health Crisis?
With the Salud America! action pack, you can help draft a resolution.
Just take these four steps:
- Connect with community advocates about local racism and health equity. Use our model email and talking points to engage racial/ethnic organizations, social justice groups, public health agencies, and others to share information and listen.
- Create a working draft of a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis. Use our materials to explore language and actions to consider when drafting a resolution.
- Ask local leaders to take action for a resolution. Use our model email and social media messages to ask your local officials to consider your draft and ultimately adopt a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis and commit to policy and system change.
- Build community support for a resolution. Use our sample email and social media messages to build community support for a resolution and commitment to action.
You can also get technical assistance from a Salud America! action pack coach, who can help customize materials and answer questions.
“We are so excited to help cities create these resolutions. They can serve as a springboard for equitable change,” Ramirez said. “Some cities are creating working groups to draft a racial equity plan. Some are also committing to training the workforce on implicit bias. Others are requiring a racial equity and social justice impact statement be submitted to city council for each bill.”
By The Numbers
50
percent
of big U.S cities have a local board of health
