CPCA’s Statement on Antiracism
In September, CPCA Leadership adopted a statement on the importance of being an antiracist organization, which outlines not only the values that guide CPCA’s antiracism work, but also identifies the internal commitments aimed at dismantling workplace inequities and creating space for inclusion and racial justice. The statement was developed by an internal workgroup of volunteer staff representing various departments and levels of the organization and is meant to serve as an internal guide for all operational activities and day-to-day work of staff. Department and team leads are now currently using the statement, along with CPCA’s strategic plan, to develop goals for the coming year.
The full statement can be found here; an excerpt is included below.
CPCA is an Antiracist Organization
Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) have been oppressed and subjected to brutality for centuries, reinforced with the creation of policies and institutions that are entrenched in a system that perpetuates racial inequity and injustice. What we are reading in the news and seeing in our communities, and what BIPOC individuals continue to experience regularly, is not new. The pervasive and profound effects of racism in health care, as an example, negatively impact social determinants of health and exponentially contribute to poor health outcomes for communities of color. To willfully ignore how white supremacist constructs have marginalized entire groups of people because of the color of their skin is to be complicit. It is the responsibility of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) to disrupt harmful practices that perpetuate racial injustice and inequality, and we must admit our own complicity and challenge these constructs in our own association.
To that end, and in alignment with our mission to position health centers as key players in the health care delivery system to improve the health of their communities, and in line with the CPCA’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy; CPCA continues in its journey to becoming an antiracist organization by actively developing new strategies and supporting current policies that address systemic racism within and beyond our organization. We envision ourselves as an association that will create spaces for members across all identity groups to be full participants in decisions that shape the institution and that we are inclusive of diverse cultures, lifestyles, and interests. We take this opportunity to share our espoused values that drive our antiracist goals, as well as outline our commitments to this ongoing work.