一年一次, we are incredibly fortunate to host nearly 600 individuals invested in the health of Coloradans at our 科罗拉多州卫生专题讨论会. The topics we focus on reflect the l和scape of health 和 the priorities we have as an organization. 这是我们的招牌活动, 和 a wonderful moment in time during the year to engage with others 和 express how we’re evolving as an organization.
Last year, we made some important changes to the event approach. 例如，我们:
- Incorporated new forms of creative expression to reinforce the power of community. I certainly won't forget that I got to rap on stage with Jonny 5 和 Brer Rabbit from the Denver-based hip-hop group, Flobots.
- Introduced a widened view on health – one that goes beyond the clinic settings 和 into the social cohesion of a community.
- 展示了新型的说书人，比如 蒂芙尼安德森 和 格洛丽亚·怀尔德, who talked about their own experiences, in addition to those of others.
- 在活动期间提供能力建设机会.
- Introduced a scholarship program to bring new perspectives 和 voices from across Colorado communities.
- 推出了一个 新的社区卫生领导奖 纪念已故的伟大博士. Virgilio Licona, who brought a critical voice to some of the most important conversations 和 decisions related to how all Coloradans can be healthy.
- Talked to 和 with our attendees about moving beyond ideas to action, 和 we pondered a movement that centers on the dream of all Coloradans having what we need to live healthy lives.
By the time our staff were driving home from the event last year, we knew that 今年’s Symposium would focus on inequity. It is the core barrier to ensuring that health is in reach for all Coloradans. 我们必须以集体的方式一起讨论这个问题. 还有什么比通过这个会议平台更好的方式呢? 与会者证实了我们的想法, 和 asked us to focus – for the first time ever – on the impact of race on health.
So, 今年, we’re taking on what is perhaps the most complex social issue of our time 和 trying to underst和 the basics. 虽然这并不是一个新的话题, our hope is to surface a discussion that’s been going on for a long time – 和 add to it. 围绕不平等的讨论是鲜活而真实的. 但, it’s new for us as an organization to drive a conversation about inequity that can be heard by leaders in health from across Colorado. 这对我们来说是不同的，令人兴奋的.
When considering 今年’s theme around the concept of inequity, we thought a lot about the role the Foundation plays in communities across the state 和 nationally. We knew that we were entering yet another phase of our evolution as a Foundation – of intentionally taking on equity as a core goal of our work – 和 wanted to be as thoughtful 和 bold as possible in our approach.
We’ve framed the conference around a single metaphor: that of a table. We already have a collective table, so let’s get around it 和 discuss the key drivers of inequity. 让我们把偏见摆到桌面上来. 让我们试着在餐桌上找到一个归属的地方.
One source of inspiration while planning the conference came through an essay titled “Grounds for Hope.作者说, 丽贝卡·索尔尼特, 历史学家和活动家, tackles the approaches of grassroots constituencies 和 how today’s world has changed how we think about hope. When it comes to fighting inequities, hope all too often gets lost in the shuffle.
索尔尼特写道:Hope is a gift you don’t have to surrender; a power you don’t have to throw away … Uprisings 和 revolutions are often considered to be spontaneous, but it is the less visible long-term organizing 和 groundwork – or underground work – that often laid the foundation. Changing the story isn’t enough in itself, but it has often been foundational to real changes … 我们在一起是非常强大的, 我们有一个鲜为人知的故事, seldom-remembered history of victories 和 transformations that can give us confidence that, 是的, 我们可以改变世界，因为我们以前有很多次. 你向前划，回头看, 和 telling this history is part of helping people navigate toward the future. We need a litany, a rosary, a sutra, a mantra, a war chant of our victories. 过去的一切都在白昼, 和 it can become a torch we can carry into the night that is the future.”
This passage speaks to the role we believe that a single event can have in reducing inequities. We’re not going to change the world in three days at the 科罗拉多州卫生专题讨论会. 但 we can have a very visible conversation about improving the health of Coloradans at a table together. Maybe we’ll even drive home 今年 with a rally cry that all of us identify with – for years to come.
We look forward to sitting at that table with those of you joining us in person 和 在线 八月初. Until then, we invite your feedback 和 thoughts directly via email.
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