This month we recognize and celebrate Black History!

Dr. Christina Ghaly speaks at LA General African American Heritage Event

Black History month is celebrated in February. The month was selected because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass both had birthdays in the second week of February. Abraham Lincoln was a key player in the emancipation of slaves and Frederick Douglass, formerly enslaved, was an advocate and abolitionist who worked tirelessly to end slavery. This article from NPR provides the background and historical perspective of Black History Month.

Check out the roundup and review of Black History Month celebrations and special events on the EDIA SharePoint site (SharePoint is only available to staff). Among the highlights:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center has been celebrating all month with food trucks, music, dance and other special events every Friday in February. They also had some t-shirts made to commemorate the month.

LA General CEO Jorge Orozco at African American Heritage Event

Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center created educational exhibits and held various events throughout the month with food, vendors and music. There is an article in this month’s edition of The Pulse contributed by Rancho Los Amigos staff highlighting a prominent scientist who worked on the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine and the University of Southern California’s first Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer.

LA General Medical Center’s African Americans Advocating for Healthcare hosted the annual African American Heritage Celebration on Wednesday, February 23rd. The event, entitled: Acknowledging our Past and Celebrating our Future included a special seafood boil menu, entertainment by Barbara Morrison, Stuart Elster, Montel Luke, and Michael Saucier and educational resources for all in attendance. Special guests included DHS Director – Dr. Christina Ghaly, LA General Medical Center’s CEO – Jorge Orzoco and LA General Medical Center’s CNO – Dr. Nancy Blake.

Also, on February 16, 2022, the EDIA Initiative gathered a group of Black nursing staff for a roundtable conversation in honor of Black History Month. This discussion gave a nuanced look at the lived experience of a group of Black nurses representing multiple facilities and staffing levels. The discussion was hosted by Nkem Ndefo, lead EDIA consultant and County-trained RN. Check out the informative Black Nurses’ Roundtable (link is only available to staff).

EDIA Nurses’ Roundtable

This month in the EDIA Initiative:

• The EDIA Facility/Unit Subcommittees and Affinity Groups finalized their values, vision, and mission statements and recommendations for the EDIA strategic plan;
• The EDIA Council, made up of representatives from each of the 8 EDIA Subcommittees, 7 Affinity Groups, and the EDIA Advisory Group, began meeting to take these recommendations and draft the EDIA strategic plan

Get the latest on what’s happening in the EDIA Initiative, by visiting the EDIA SharePoint site.