ABOUT Equity Speaker Series ft. Jason Vitello

Sponsored by Equity Action Project

Racism: A Public Health Crisis

In recent years our nation has seen disproportionately high rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths within the BIPOC community, high-profile murders of unarmed Black people by police, a rise in discrimination and hate crimes against individuals of Asian descent, and the re-emergence of overt bigotry in social discourse.

In response, the American Public Health Association, many of its affiliates, and public health departments across the country have declared racism a public health crisis and have begun campaigns to address racial inequities. Unfortunately, a significant backlash has arisen as well, as evidenced by the proliferation of hateful rhetoric across corporate and social media platforms, and legislation in multiple states which bans the teaching of factual history in schools and diminishes the voting power of racial minorities.

This should come as no surprise, as throughout the history of the United States, every movement to advance equity and justice for BIPOC and other systemically excluded communities has been met by fierce resistance; and every gain ever made against racism and oppression has only come through struggle. This presentation will provide the historically factual context of this enduring struggle and a path forward for community and public health leaders.

• Participants will better understand racism as a cause of social inequality and a barrier to community and population health.
• Participants will better understand health equity and anti-racism and why these should be a primary focus of public health.
• Participants will have a deeper professional and personal commitment to equity and anti-racism.

Jason Vitello Bio:

Jason Vitello is the Past President of the Colorado Public Health Association, Equity and Community Development Manager at the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, a practitioner at the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, and an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. He is also a national speaker, consultant, educator, and activist committed to the advancement of justice, equity, and healing in our communities, and in the systems that serve them. Formerly, Jason was a social worker and therapist who provided advocacy and clinical services to individuals from over-impacted and under-resourced communities. It should be noted that before he was ever a provider of human services or family assistance – he was a recipient of them.

His ultimate interest is in collective liberation and the betterment of the human condition through fierce compassion, unity across struggles, the peaceful obliteration of structural inequalities, and comprehensive paradigm transformation.

Learn more: Website

DETAILS

• Show @ 6:30PM | Doors @ 5:30PM
• Seated Show
• Location: TACAW, 400 Robinson St, Basalt, CO 81621

Presented By: TACAW