June 19 Is Juneteenth

The Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people, was issued in 1863, though there was minimal enforcement in Texas. Enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, weren't informed they were free until 2.5 years later, on June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived to ensure their release. In 2021, Juneteenth became a U.S. federal holiday and a Washington state holiday to honor the effective end of slavery in the U.S.

Racism is a serious threat to public health, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): "Racism, both interpersonal and structural, negatively affects the mental and physical health of millions of people, preventing them from attaining their highest level of health." Black people in the U.S. experience known health disparities, and Black mothers of all ages are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white peers.

And so we ask ourselves: How do we as highly principled, skilled, compassionate providers of health care in western Washington respond to a nationwide need for appropriate health education and care – with equitable access for all individuals?

One thing I have chosen to do is partner with LifeWire, an amazing local organization that works with survivors of domestic violence. Survivors of color continue to be disproportionately impacted by violence, which is why LifeWire's dedication to reflecting the community they serve is so vital.

I started as a volunteer at LifeWire 30 years ago in 1994, when it was called Eastside Domestic Violence Program. I had the opportunity to spend 10 years as an employee working as an advocate in their emergency shelter and transitional housing program, and leading support groups. Currently I sit on the LifeWire board as a representative of EvergreenHealth. LifeWire is the only organization I've worked with longer than I've been with EvergreenHealth.

I am proud of the work they do, and their commitment to access: LifeWire staff collectively speak 17 different languages, including English, Spanish, Swedish, French, Indonesian, Malay, Mandinka, Yoeme, Arabic, Khmer, Somali, Mandarin, Japanese, Portuguese, Latin, Hindi and Punjabi.

Their work every day helps people get free from the violence they are experiencing. As we reflect on the freeing of the enslaved, it reminds me that we still have work to do to make sure we support programs that are working with survivors to help them break free from the cycle of violence. I invite you to learn more about LifeWire at www.lifewire.org.

EvergreenHealth advocates for health equity, supporting access to and use of health care for all individuals and groups. Thank you for joining us in recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth, a milestone on our national road map to fully embodying our nation as "the land of the free."