The VACBP launched OneVACBP, an initiative focused on fighting racism and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Following the adoption of a resolution by the VACBP Board of Directors on June 16, 2020, association members met for several months to develop the initiative's structure and goals, which were unanimously approved by the Board in September.

These goals include the following:

• Acknowledge and strongly support the statement: Black lives matter
• Increase awareness of systemic barriers and unconscious bias that disadvantage the black community
• Acknowledge racism is a social determinant of health and identify strategies to change this
• Reduce the negative impact of racism on other social determinants of health
• Utilize data to achieve racial equity within our state and advance opportunity for all
• Increase access to medical and behavioral healthcare for all Virginia residents, particularly for black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) who experience disparate healthcare access based on race, ethnicity, national origin, English language proficiency, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, differing abilities and income
• Promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the VACBP and within VACBP member agencies
• Increase diversity in VACBP membership and leadership, including among BIPOC-owned and BIPOC-operated agencies
• Apply an equity lens to all aspects of our work, including governance, commitment, value alignment, policy, practice and service
• Advocate for policies that advance and promote anti-racism and social justice 

To support these goals, the following workgroups were established:

• Individual, Structural and Systemic Racism Workgroup
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup
• Social Justice and Anti-Racism Policy Workgroup​

Interested in learning more about this important member initiative? Click here.

Recommended Reading

The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein

White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo

The Groundwater Approach, by Brayard Love and Deena Hayes-Greene of the Racial Equity Institute

Fatal Invention, by Dorothy Roberts

Heavy, An American Memoir, by Kiese Laymon

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

Organizations

• National Cares Mentoring Movement: A pioneering community‐galvanizing movement dedicated to alleviating intergenerational poverty among African Americans. It offers Black children in low‐income families and unstable communities the social, emotional and academic supports they need to unleash their potential and graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college or vocational‐ training programs and 21st‐century careers. Link here.
• Hope in the Cities: Hope in the Cities (HIC) possesses a deep history of inter‐racial trust, reflection, dialogue and action spanning 25 years. Link here.
• Color of Change: Color Of Change sends online actions and in‐person events you can join to stand up for racial justice. Link here.
• NAACP: Link here.
• National Urban League:  The nation's oldest and largest community based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Link here,
• The King Center: A global destination, resource center and community institution for over a quarter century. Link here.