Bon Secours Mercy Health’s Post

None of us are safe until all of us are safe. A 2020 survey by the Center for American Progress found that Black LGBTQ people regularly alter their behavior to avoid harm and discrimination. 1 in 3 avoid public spaces 2 in 5 have moved away from family 1 in 5 avoid travel Inclusive and affirming care is just one step toward safer living for all of us. Find out how You:Flourish connects the community to vetted care: https://bit.ly/49GZkY0

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. How are you celebrating our AAPI neighbors, family members, colleagues and community members this month (and all year)? Three recommendations: 1. Check out the work of the The Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation and follow my colleague, Danielle Kim. 2. Read the current issue of Boston Spirit Magazine and specifically the article on community funds in support of the LGBTQ community, including a new fund launched in the Merrimack Value thanks to Julie Chen & Susu Wong. 3. Finally, read this piece that came out last year that centers LGBTQ mental health and the AAPI experience.

"By fostering open dialogues, strengthening partnerships between community organizations, and championing policies that protect vulnerable communities, Birmingham is poised to set new benchmarks for progress." Learn how Birmingham, Alabama is advancing racial equity, social justice, and LGBTQ inclusivity to ensure a welcoming, just, and equitable city for all. Read here: https://bit.ly/4bEGm5U

Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the identities, experiences, and contributions of pansexual and panromantic individuals. It's a day to raise awareness about the diversity within the LGBTQ community, particularly focusing on those who identify as pansexual or panromantic. Visibility and awareness days like this help combat stigma, foster understanding, and promote inclusivity. They provide platforms for education, support, and empowerment for those within the pansexual and panromantic communities and beyond. It's also an opportunity for allies to show their solidarity and amplify the voices of those who often face marginalization or erasure.

This was one of the biggest ah-ha moments I've had coming out of a Comm Convo. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I often have big ideas and then dig in to work really hard and make it happen. No humble-bragging; my point is the opposite. A weakness with my M.O. is that it's easy to get tunnel vision and not appreciate signs of progress and small wins, because I'm always working toward something else. I think this is why change -- when it comes to more important issues like achieving true equity in [fill in the blank with any industry name here] -- seem elusive. Yes, while it's inarguably important to not lose sight of those master goals, we can do our part to create safe spaces for those in our own communities. Especially in our role as communicators in an industry with human health at its center, we are super well-positioned to lead by example. And the ah-ha moment for me specifically was that seemingly small gestures can have real, meaningful impact, and that shouldn't be taken for granted or worse, sacrificed because we're too busy trying to convince other people to do the right thing.

Chicago-Kent alumni are doing amazing things to serve our communities! There are many ways that Chicago-Kent students and graduates can help those in need. Come talk to an advisor in the Office of Career Development and Professionalism if you want to discuss your path forward! #lawstudents #newlawyers #makingadifference

HFA self-study: "Ethical Issues in Effectively Providing LGBTQ-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care." This CE program explores potential conflicts & offer strategies and tools for professionals in effectively serving the LGBTQ communities: https://bit.ly/43hLDeY #pridemonth

Today, we honor and celebrate the legalization of gay marriage in The United States. While we have made much progress, we still have miles to go. For more than half of the state’s LGBTQ community, food on the table isn’t always a given. Hunger is not a temporary emergency—it’s an ongoing crisis in Massachusetts. According to our fourth annual statewide report, focusing investments on food pantries that serve LGBTQ communities could improve food equity and access. Read the report to learn more about the state of hunger in the Commonwealth: https://lnkd.in/edqd_Gks #FeedingEasternMA#EndHungerHere#FoodInsecurity