Health Equity and Anti-Racism Community Advisory Group

History

In March 2020—as the COVID-19 pandemic was rapidly unfolding in King County—Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) convened a multisector table of community, business, and public sector representatives who worked to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus by accelerating the adoption of community mitigation strategies. This was the Pandemic Community Advisory Group. Only a few months later, community representatives and Public Health came together to revisit, reframe, and expand the advisory group’s purpose, in large part driven by community demands and the county’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis. In addition, to achieve its revised goals, the advisory group modified its approach from being led solely led by Public Health, to being co-led by community representatives and Public Health. Finally, it modified its name to “Pandemic and Racism Community Advisory Group” (PARCAG) to better reflect its expanded intent. 

In 2024, a year after the Federal government declared the end of the COVID-19 emergency, although COVID-19 is still a significant health concern, the advisory group adopted a new name and updated its Purpose statement. The updates include a new name less tied to COVID-19 and more centered on health equity—the Health Equity and Anti-Racism Community Advisory Group (HEARCAG). The new group has an updated charge based on the 2024-2029 Public Health Strategic Plan, more information on advisory group membership, eligibility guidelines for serving on the Steering Committee, and compensation guidelines for both groups.

Health Equity and Anti-Racism Community Advisory Group Member Roster (160 KB)

Purpose

(Developed in August 2020, updated October 2024.)

The Pandemic and Racism Community Advisory Group worked to identify, inspire, and mobilize bold solutions in response to the urgent, interconnected crises of COVID-19 and systemic racism. The renamed Health Equity and Anti-Racism Community Advisory Group (HEARCAG) continues the work on the interconnected crisis of health and racism, focusing on health equity and racism as a public health crisis.

As an advisory group, HEARCAG members believe all King County residents should have equitable opportunity for health and well-being, and therefore focus this work on historically marginalized people and communities who are disproportionately impacted by crises.

The HEARCAG seeks solutions that respond in the near-term to the health and racism crisis in front of us, and solutions that will prevent crises from continuing to unfold in the future by challenging the systems and practices that underlie these unacceptable, disproportionate impacts. By intentionally capturing and acting on lessons learned along the way, HEARCAG will build toward an inclusive, anti-racist future. Additionally, there is a strong desire among the group to reimagine how we spend county dollars, spending more on health, community development, and human services and less in the criminal legal system. The group recognizes the long terms harms which are caused by even brief period of incarceration to black and brown communities.  

How the Health Equity and Anti-Racism Community Advisory Group works

• By centering on Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
• By acting on Racism is a Public Health Crisis work both internally in PHSKC and externally with community and across sectors.
• By recognizing the intersectionality of people’s overlapping identities and experiences—such as race, ethnicity, disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, class, and other identities—and its role in discrimination, oppression, access, and privilege. 
• By creating effective feedback loops and partnerships among community and public sectors—to disseminate accurate information that is culturally appropriate, that is accessible to those with disabilities, and that provides for language access; to counter misinformation and stigma, to document lessons learned about health inequities; to influence and advise on solutions; and to help save lives and achieve health equity.
• By a co-powered leadership structure that positions communities as drivers of change by building from their long-term experiences and knowledge.
• By holding King County, Public Health, and other institutions at the table accountable to their public commitment to work over the long-term in stronger, better resourced, and true partnerships with community to disrupt and dismantle the oppressive, racist systems they have been complicit in maintaining.

HEARCAG will produce an annual report, highlighting the achievements and challenges, and it will include quotes from members and will be published on the PHSKC website, plus accountability progress and workplans for the coming year.

HEARCAG membership

Advisory Group members are recruited with the intention of centering Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and a substantial majority of the membership is among these groups. HEARCAG aims for at least 60% of membership from Black, Native and Indigenous communities. HEARCAG members typically represent an organization, since the group works on policy and systems changes; but individual members are invited to participate to expand representation. Acknowledging that several associations, professional groups, and informal networks are in place for larger organizations, HEARCAG seeks membership from smaller or grassroots BIPOC-led organizations to lift their voices and expand their influence.