2021 didn't exactly start the way that we had hoped. The good, the bad, and the ugly have all been on display in the past few weeks. The trauma of witnessing the failed coup attempt on The Capital was thankfully balanced by the inaugural poem by Amanda Gorman, the feeling of relief as we transition into a new age of experienced and level-headed executive leadership, and a moment of levity thanks to... Bernie Sanders' Mittens! The executive order that reversed restrictions on anti-racism education was one of many important policy changes that will improve equity. What we witnessed reminds us of just how much work we have to do, that we must acknowledge our history- even if it is painful, if we want to truly heal, and that we can do it. I highly recommend reading or listening to the audiobook Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. It is a brilliantly written and meticulously researched deep dive into a comparison of the systems of division in the United States, Nazi Germany, & India that helps us better understand how we came to this moment in history. Check out an interview with the author, Isabel Wilkerson, including her thoughts about caste and the impact on health equity. "New Year New You" is something that we often hear at the beginning of the year. I hope you like the new logo as I work on rebranding for 2021. I am also in the process of revising the website and this newsletter to better serve you. In the meantime, please follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for health equity resources posted in real-time. Juliette The Health Equity NP
