Anti-racism Advocacy & Consumer Perspectives August 14, 2020
Webinar Speakers • Mercedes Elizalde, MNPL, Public Policy Director, Central City Concern (CCC) in Portland, OR • Valarie Dowell, Consumer Advocate and NHCHC Board Member, Cincinnati, OH • Judith Park, Graduate Policy Intern, National Health Care for the Homeless Council and MSW/MPH Candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Poll Question How would you identify yourself? Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Video: Rep. John Lewis’ Last Words • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2DS kAys-8 Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Poll Question How comfortable do you feel explaining structural/systemic racism to somebody else? Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Levels of Racism Structural/S • St Structural/Systemic: ystemic underneath, all around and across society Institutional nal: policies and • Ins Institut utiona practices within and Interpersona l across institutions • In Inter erper persona nal: between individuals Individual dual: within a • Indi Individua person Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
NHCHC Storytelling Project • Storytelling as an advocacy tool • Conducted interviews with 10 consumers (people with lived experience of homelessness) that identified as a person of color Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Impact of Racism on Health (mental, emotional, physical, etc.) • Feelings of anger, helplessness, fear “I “I wa was very angry because of the helplessness that I fe felt..” “As an African-Am “A American, , we live in fear too. oo. Fear of of pot otenti tial ha harm, m, fea ear of mer merel ely ha having ng eno enoug ugh h to sur urvive, e, fea ear of our ur men men being bei ng carted ed off to jail whe hether her it be be for valid d rea easons ns or for non-va no valid reasons.” Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Impact of Racism on Health (mental, emotional, physical, etc.) • Negative self-image/self-identity/self-worth “Y “You’re lo lookin ing at im imag ages on TV an and all all the posit itiv ives ar are fr from a a di differ eren ent cul ultur ure e and nd all the he neg negatives es are e from m my cu culture.” “T “They ha had d label beled ed me me and nd condi nditioned ned me me tha hat I I was mi militant si simply because se I thought I was s so somebody and Bl Black.” .” Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Racism in Health care • Poor treatment from medical providers “De Dealin aling w wit ith he health h care pr professiona nals, Whi hite do doctors, the hey will treat you in a very patronizing if not condescending way. Th They will just assum jus ume tha hat you u are eithe her igno gnorant or gaming ng the he sy system.” • Long wait times “My y Wh White counterpart had finish shed treatment around the sa same time tim e bec ecau ause e we e wer ere e in in th the e sam ame e group an and he’ e’s alr alread eady done e th three ee after ercar are e tr trea eatm tmen ents ts..an and I’ I’ve e done e it it once. e...he’ e’s ab able le to get t certain t ce things f faster t than me me.” Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Racism in Health care • Denial of pain medication “I “I’ve had some pretty intense abdominal cr cramps unexplained an and they would ld no not give e me me pa pain n medi medication n when hen I I kne new tha hat th they’d give oth thers pain medi medication. n..I gu guess they’d think I was a drug dr ug abus buser er or us user er.” • Cultural incompetence “T “There is an an alar alarmin ing rate of f cult ltural al in incompetence in in hea health h ca care..p ..peop ople ar are unawar are of f these ethnic ic dif ifferences when they are really im th importan ant.” Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Poll Question How do you feel about being an anti-racist advocate? Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB) • NCAB is a committee of people who have experienced homelessness and been clients of Health Care for the Homeless programs across the country. • NCAB strives to be the vehicle for HCH consumers to be a collaborative voice on national issues. We hold central the priorities of assisting consumers in the development of CABs and serving as a clearinghouse for information. Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
NCAB Advocacy Committee • Pu Purpose • Em Empo power r co consumers to be effective advocates • Pr Provide education and discu cussion on advocacy principles and strategies • Develop local and national advocacy cy opportunities • Act ctivate co consumers to inform and boost the policy work of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council • Fo Format at • Led by a sub-committee of NCAB members and Council staff • Sub-committee meets monthly to plan agenda • Discussions are co-facilitated by a consumer leader and staff. Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
NCAB Advocacy Committee • Act Action Items ms • The NCAB Advocacy Committee decided to launch with a focus on Racism and Health. • We will build on the interviews Judith has done and our personal experiences to identify issues and solutions to advocate around • We’ll use our previous experience with storytelling as an entry to advocacy and take advantage of the passion and energy of this moment Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Invite people with the lived experience to join the Advocacy Committee Call • Next Call: Wednesday August 26 th at 6pm Eastern • https://zoom.us/j/92338480585?pwd=ZlZ1QUNrVEtHQ3V LMkc0dGJmNHFaQT09 • Meetings are the fourth Wednesday of every month • Co Contact : Katherine Cavanaugh • kcavanaugh@nhchc.org • (443) 703 – 1320 Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Anti-Racism Advocacy • Proactive and Reactive Advocacy work • Find the balance that works for you by centering your values and the impact you seek to have • Align your proactive engagement with your skills and expertise Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Examples of Building a Framework • Central City Concern in Portland, OR • Policy Focus #4 – Race and Social Justice • Work with local, state and federal governments and community partners • Identify policy and funding issues that perpetuate systemic oppression and discrimination against BIPOC communities • Work towards making long-term, foundational systems change Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
ABC’s of Anti-Racism Policy Support p policy c changes… A. To remove barriers and increase access to financial stability and social goods B. To reduce over incarceration and reduce barriers to housing, health care, employment and other social goods for African Americans and others who have experienced incarceration C. That focus on appropriately scaling up community- based programs through health and human services Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Examples of Actions • Support ban on tear gas and choke holds • Support investments in community-based services by cutting poorly performing police department programs • Support = Letters to leaders, getting coalitions we participate in to lead on supporting changes, speakers at council and state legislative meetings, client work groups to identify internal and external opportunities for improvement and engagement Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
Q&A If you have any questions for the speakers, please put it in the chat box! Speakers: • Mercedes Elizalde, MNPL, Public Policy Director, Central City Concern (CCC) in Portland, OR • Valarie Dowell, Consumer Advocate and NHCHC Board Member, Cincinnati, OH • Judith Park, Graduate Policy Intern, National Health Care for the Homeless Council and MSW/MPH Candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Qua l ity | Ac c ess | Justic e | C o m m unity | n hchc. o r g
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