The Health Equity Team at the Oregon Advocacy Commission Office (OACO) aims to partner with people with lived experience in Black and Indigenous communities and other people of color, as well as those with intersecting, marginalized identities. We work to empower community members to effectively make their voices heard within State government processes and elevate ongoing health equity initiatives that seek to alleviate racism as a public health crisis. We facilitate connections between thought leaders, community-based organizations, and state agencies to collaborate on advancing health equity initiatives and combating racism. The Health Equity Team aims to elevate anti-racist policies during legislative session and work towards de-siloing equity work by making connections across community-based organizations, state agencies, and legislators across Oregon in order to advance health equity.
HB 4052 was passed with the intention of having Black and Indigenous communities and other people of color (POC) central to decision-making processes generating health equity solutions that addressing racism as a public health crisis. To learn more, the full text is available to read here: HB 4052 (2022).