Rochester Encourages Citizens To Sign The 'Racism Is A Public Health Crisis' Pledge

Press release from the City of Rochester:

March 8, 2022

Mayor Malik D. Evans today joined the Black Agenda Group to remind members of the Rochester community to sign the “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” pledge and to introduce the organization’s new Implementation Tool.

The Implementation Tool lists the organizational practices identified in the “Racism is a Public Health Crisis Declaration.” The Black Agenda Group prompts organizations to identify an Executive Sponsor, a responsible staff person and an experienced, internal cross-functional team to complete this tool and to implement the selected practices.

“The issue of racial health disparities has been a conversation for too long,” said Mayor Evans. “How can we create safe, stable neighborhoods if 40% of our population is underserved and unable to rely on a health system created to keep them healthy? We can’t.”

“The first step to solving a crisis is to identify it,” stated the City Council President Miguel Melendez. “We’ve identified it. Now, we raise awareness, and take action.”

“For too long, historical exclusive systems of access for some and not for others have plagued our city and country with the results of poverty, violence, bad health and poor quality education,” said Hanif Abdul-Wahid of the Black Agenda Group. “It has left too many black, brown and underserved communities to suffer and struggle. Now is the time to work on eradicating exclusive systems to more inclusive systems.”

The Black Agenda Group launched the “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” campaign in May of 2020 to take the issue of racial health disparities from a conversation to a push for action. History shows that people of color face unfair disadvantages in many aspects of life, including the reception of adequate health care.

The Black Agenda Group works to implement the collective interests of Rochester’s Black community in order to establish and maintain a comprehensive systemic framework (Black Agenda) that will be adopted to drive, influence, and endorse policies and practices in the areas of education, health and wellness, and economic development.

Visit The Black Agenda Group website to learn more and to sign the “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” pledge.

This press release was produced by the City of Rochester. The views expressed here are the author’s own.