The African American Health Board started as a group of Black women working in institutions promoting healthcare, social and human services, and who were also engaging as individuals in their communities. Our very first meeting was September 19, 2017 and our inaugural community kickoff was May 4th, 2019 at the Central Area Senior Center.
Individually and as a group, there was a desire for systems change between institutions holding resources and the communities in need of resources to meet immediate needs for direct services, but also to reach farther upstream to affect the root causes of lack of investment in communities of color.
We want to operate and communicate in a way that is unifying.
We desire to be heard and welcome in many different black spaces, and support each other as we bring all of our unique Black experiences and perspectives into a collective and unified goal of realizing the best health outcomes for all Black People in Washington.
African American Health Board works with organizations who reflect the values of decolonization and anti-racism in our work to
We work to create health equity by impacting policy, creating systems change and communal accountability.
We are mindful of the space we take up with our words and body language. We make space for everyone to belong and feel valued.
We are guided by a culture of inquiry to better understand one another and the work we do.
We take the time to ask and to answer questions, support, and mentor each other through the collective work we do together.
We assume best intentions of one another and, instead of judging another’s experience or point of view, we ask clarifying questions to gain better understanding.
We do not use words or actions that are disrespectful to others’ backgrounds and lived experiences. If we intentionally or unintentionally show disrespect, we are accountable to make amends.
We choose courage over comfort. We seek to create space where all can speak freely and show vulnerability. We strive to support each other to embody our principles rather than just profess them.
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