Health Equity

Our commitment to health equity, diversity, and inclusion (HEDI).

TRAINING SEQUENCE

HEDI is a major focus of the training program at Blue Zones Project. Our four-part training sequence guides new colleagues through the foundations of health justice and identifying root causes. After identifying these causes, colleagues are encouraged to engage in practices and use and develop tools to advance diversity and inclusion within their communities and organizations. Our two main training topics include:

1. SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH (Parts 1 & 2)

2. AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

The HEDI Community of Practice (CoP) meets monthly to engage in professional development, best practice sharing, and action planning toward promoting health equity, diversity, and inclusion internally and externally. If you are interested in continuing to incorporate the importance of health equity, diversity, and inclusion into your work with Blue Zones Project, please consider joining us. More information is included below:

ABOUT THE HEDI CoP

JOIN THE HEDI COP

SUBMIT A TOPIC

MEET THE FACILITATORS

The following colleagues have volunteered their time to complete the HEDI Facilitator Certification process and have expressed willingness to grow, learn, and take risks for the benefit of Blue Zones Project and the communities we serve.

*Click their images for a quick look at their favorite HEDI resource.

Cyrus Howe

Hawai'i

Issues around health equity, diversity, and inclusion are more apparent than ever. I saw my involvement in this group and body of work as an opportunity to contribute to the necessary dismantling of systemic racism and inequity that prevents too many people from living healthy, happy lives.

Genevieve LeBlanc

Monterey County

I believe that to dream of healthier and happier communities, we need to address inequalities within our communities. As a queer colleague, I strive to use my voice and aim to be as inclusive as possible in the actions I undertake. I will be a life-long HEDI learner and I am thrilled to do it alongside other BZP colleagues

Juliete Palenshus

Thrive Umpqua

I am inspired to use my power and background as a Kanienʼkehá꞉ka of the Haudenosaunee (Mohawk of the Iroquois Confederacy), daughter of an immigrant, someone who grew up in poverty and has had the privilege to travel and receive formal education to create a world that celebrates the richness inherent in diversity.

Tanja Roos

Monterey County

I come to this work humbly, with curiosity and a desire to keep learning. Growing up a daughter of an immigrant in a multi-cultural household, I have had many unique opportunities to broaden my worldview. HEDI is foundational to supporting individual and community wellbeing. I am committed to leveraging my positional privilege to co-create a more inclusive, beautiful, and resilient future for all.

Megan Yarberry

Hawai'i

I've been curious, alarmed and impassioned by turns about diversity and equity since childhood, when my multi-racial family moved around the world, and I learned that societal biases and structures define our individual experience and opportunities. There are lots of great writings and resources out there on HEDI, but my favorite 'tool' is to cultivate relationships with diverse people so I can learn first-hand about their lived experience.

Kimberly Porter

Central

HEDI increases opportunities for everyone to live the healthiest and longest life possible. Health is more than genetics and medical care. Research has shown that our environment/living conditions also has a lot do with how healthy we are. Allowing space for authentic discussion, dialogue and solutions opens the door for capacity building, community driven outcomes, understanding, healing and the elimination of barriers.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to incorporate Health Equity and Diversity into how I do my job and make it a priority rather than an afterthought."

BZP Colleague

6/23/21

"Thanks to this training, I will be more mindful of determining ways to engage diverse populations into our Blue Zones Project work."

BZP Colleague

10/13/21

"Facilitators were amazing! They were well-spoken on the subject matter, receptive of the audience, and allowed for proper processing time."

BZP Colleague

8/20/21

"I enjoyed being able to have a small group and discussing and sharing thoughts with everyone. It was intimate and felt like a safe space. Thank you so much!"

BZP Colleague

10/21/21