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In these last few days we have all borne witness to tragedy and loss of life in our country. What we have seen shocks, saddens, and reminds each of us of the work we still have to do to bring the promise of the American dream to all who live in this nation. The pain, anger, grief, and disbelief at what is unfolding is affecting each of us.
We want to suggest that the way to move forward starts with our Kaiser Permanente mission which includes these powerful words:…and the communities we serve. We are reminded of Martin Luther King’s words as he considered the times and racism in America in 1967 – his words were for the nation to consider, do we choose “chaos or community.” For all of us at Kaiser Permanente, our mission provides the answer – we are dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve. Every day, we recommit to this mission – to the total health of our members and the communities we serve. Today, and as we go forward, this must continue to be realized and strengthened. We believe in equity, inclusion and diversity in all aspects of our mission – in our exam rooms, our ORs, our Emergency Departments, our hospitals, our partnerships, among our staff, on our streets, and in our communities. Racism, discrimination, and injustice of any kind are unacceptable.
How do we do this? We do this through our values and our work for our members, customers and patients and communities. We believe in and stand up for a safe, secure, respectful environment for all people, inside and outside the walls of Kaiser Permanente.
Think about those words:
Safe: physically and psychologically safe. Yourselves, your children, your friends, your loved ones. Whether sitting in your home or walking down the street.
Secure: secure from harm, from violence, from domestic violence; secure from food, income or housing insecurity; secure from a novel coronavirus that does not care about the color of your skin, your country of origin or your income.
Respectful: standing for the dignity and worth of every human being. Assuring that every voice matters, everyone deserves a seat at the table, and has equal protections and accountabilities under the law.
The issue of racial inequity in our country is complex, long standing, and deeply embedded. Despite efforts, sufficient longer-term solutions have yet to be found. We can and must do better. And we can do our part. We can strengthen our commitment from where we stand—right here—with our Kaiser Permanente family. We start with these words of Gandhi: Be the change you wish to see in the world. We start with how we show up every day: living our values of equity, inclusion, diversity and ensuring a safe, secure, respectful environment for everyone. We do this in our work, and we make an impact. We do this in our personal lives, and we lift our communities. We do this in everything we do, everywhere we are, and spirits are encouraged. Lives are saved.
This is a difficult, painful time. If you have ideas, reach out to your colleagues, supervisors or to us. If you are struggling, reach out. Some of you in particular may have had experiences that make the current situation even more difficult. Our EAP and mental health resources are here to help you. Click [2] to access resources on the Employee Wellness.
Thank you for what you do. Thank you for showing up with courage, compassion, expertise, and commitment every day, dedicated to our members, patients, customers, our people, and our communities.
Let us be the change we wish to see in the world.
Stay safe and stay well everyone.
With deepest appreciation, respect and hope for a brighter future of equity for all,
Julie and Ed