Kaiser Permanente Announces $500,000 in Grant Funds to Address Systemic Racism

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been reports of obvious health disparities among communities of color. And, as the national conversation on social justice still continues, many organizations have made commitments to continue the work started by grassroots activists. We reported last year how Michael Bloomberg’s organization had pledged $100 million to increase the number of Black doctors by providing grant funding for medical schools. And now, Kaiser Permanente, a healthcare company based in Oakland, California, has pledged $500,000 to combat systemic racism in areas like health care, business, civic engagement, and policy. This funding partly arose because of reports that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color.

Health and Other Disparities Are the Focus of These Grant Awards

This funding that Kaiser Permanente will award comes on the heels of $25 million of funding that the health care company announced in 2020. The goal of these funds were to work to fix health disparities and end systemic racism faced by communities of color. These four grants are part of this investment.

Here’s what Dr. Kristin Conn, medical director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Kaiser Permanente Washington, had to say about this grant award:

“These unprecedented times call for Kaiser Permanente to take a stand and lead on racial and social justice issues. These investments will support leaders to advance community-based solutions that foster racial equity and justice, healing, and good health in communities of color.” &emdash; Dr. Kristin Conn

Here are the four organizations who received these grants:

1. Africatown Community Land Trust
2. Black Education Strategy Roundtable
3. Byrd Barr Place
4. Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle

All of the funds will go towards dismantle discriminatory policies, systems, and practices, this includes health disparities.

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