Welcome to
Justice Squared
Just Leaders for a Just Health System
STRUCTURAL RACISM IN HEALTHCARE DRIVES UNEQUAL OUTCOMES
There is growing awareness of the cancer of structural racism in healthcare. Studies have demonstrated that policies, structures, and narratives have been operating in our society and in our healthcare organizations to create an unfair game and an uneven playing field in a way that predictably drives unequal health and life outcomes. This cancer has eroded our trust with communities and created harm for our workforce, most of whom joined the field for a mission to heal. With this growing awareness has come opposition and well-funded attacks from within the profession and from beyond on any efforts to create justice.
Yet we know that when health inequities persist, we all lose–in the loss of human potential and opportunity, in the moral dissonance of practicing in an unfair system, and in unchecked healthcare costs borne by everyone.
As a sixth of the US economy, we in the health professions have the opportunity to show that a new way is possible for ourselves, our communities, and our nation. One which restores joy and purpose for ourselves and trust with our workforce and communities.
What is the health system we want and need? “One in which love runs throughout”
As part of the co-design process that got us here, hundreds of people shared their vision of the healthcare they want for themselves and their loved ones.
For the Loved Ones: “A racially just and equitable health system grounded in love and belonging that treats people with dignity, provides culturally excellent high-quality care, and enhances the well-being and quality of life for all people.”
Check out all the key themes and insights from the initial design process, led by the amazing Co-Creative team!
THE GAP BETWEEN OUR VISION AND OUR REALITY
Many healthcare and public health organizations have made addressing racism and other inequities a priority. However, even the most committed leaders are taking on an enormous challenge when centering racism in their system change efforts. For many people leaders of color who find themselves leading this work within the healthcare system, this work can be exhausting, heartbreaking, and can lead to marginalization and isolation as a leader. For the many people who have stepped up to advance this work side by side, the work is challenging to do. For communities who are trying to do this work, they often find themselves unable to decipher where change is possible.
Structural racism is like the water we swim in or the air we breathe—it is our normal and we take it for granted. As a result, most of our tools and solutions have focused on changing the beliefs and behaviors of the players on the uneven playing field–patients and healthcare team members–based on the belief that individual behaviors drive these outcomes. We are all early in our understanding of how to change the setup of the game or how to level the playing field.
WHY WE’RE FORMING THE JUSTICE SQUARED COLLECTIVE
The time has come, in the face of headwinds, and pathways that will need to be discovered together, to deepen our shared commitment and investment in building a fair and just healthcare system that works for everyone.
Even superheroes know that we can’t take on the really insidious, many-headed monster root problems, like structural racism, without working together. People working within healthcare systems, who understand the inner workings of how healthcare operates, and people with lived experience of racial inequity and systemic oppression both have vital perspectives to offer in building a shared, structural analysis of how racism is operating in healthcare. When these everyday heroes–who all hold a piece of the puzzle and diverse strengths and assets–come together, powerful change is possible. By leading change collectively, like the root systems of trees, we will be better equipped to address the root causes of health inequities–the norms, policies and practices of healthcare organizations to support health, justice, and liberation.
Are you ready? Calling in JUSTICE SQUARED TEAMS
Are you ready to begin the journey? Do you have a community that you know is experiencing inequities to work with? Form your team and come join the journey!
We are inviting you into a generational journey, taken in practical steps, together. We are committed to charting a path as better ancestors to doing that work, knowing that it will build on the work of generations past and create healing and health for both ourselves and for generations to come. If your healthcare organization is ready to create real change in partnership with communities, apply to become part of the inaugural JUSTICE SQUARED collective.
Can you help? Calling in the JUSTICE SQUARED LEAGUE
Whether you are a content creator or coach, racial justice TA provider or racial healing practitioner, an artist or a technologist, we need you! If you feel you have a piece of the puzzle to offer that could benefit the JUSTICE SQUARED collective, apply to become part of the JUSTICE SQUARED LEAGUE supporting the JUSTICE SQUARED TEAMS…and one another
FILLING OUR POWER PACKS
What’s new?
Call for Proposals for JUSTICE SQUARED Opens October 15th! Sign up to be on the mailing list for updates
Bright spot
Check out the latest news. and stay up to date on what’s happening around the world
Power-up course
Get grounded in how root causes show up in healthcare and public health through the FREE Roots of Health Inequity Course courtesy of NACCHO
How structural violence shows up for different groups
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A compilation of the history of how structural violence has shown up in different marginalized communities from the AMA 2021-2023 Strategic Plan, used with permission from AMA, Aletha Maybank.
Appendix 3-9