Critical Conversations on the Intersections

of Structural Racism, Youth, and

Community Well-being

Overview

The STRYVE Action Council, in partnership with the Safe States Alliance, presents a series of “critical conversations” with national public health experts and youth on how structural racism is impacting the health and safety of young people across the country.

During this series of “critical conversation,” panelists from the STRYVE Action Council, a multidisciplinary consortium of organizations working to build safe, healthy, inclusive, and equitable communities that allow youth from every background to thrive, will explore and discuss the interconnected nature of structural racism and health outcomes.

Session 1 - Unpacking the Impacts of Structural Racism on Youth

June 29, 2020 | 2:00 PM EDT

Access the archived recording here.

During this inaugural “critical conversation,” panelists will discuss the many areas in which structural racism exists and how it adversely impacts the lives of youth. Racism is ubiquitous and exists within all structures that touch the daily lives of youth, including the criminal justice system, educational systems, housing, and the economy. Panelists from organizations representing public health, psychology, community development, and youth engagement will share their perspectives, experiences, and work related to addressing structural racism. Panelists will participate in open dialogue and engage with attendees to discuss opportunities to work toward change.

Presenters

Mighty Fine, MPH, Director of the Center for Public Health Practice and Professional Development at the American Public Health Association (APHA)
Miyah Hull, APA Youth Advisory Board member
Sheila B. Savannah, MA, Managing Director at Prevention Institute
Brian D. Smedley, PhD, Chief of Psychology in the Public Interest and Acting Chief Diversity Officer, American Psychological Association (APA)

Moderator

Dr. Jamila Porter, Director of Programs and Evaluation, Safe States Alliance

Session 2 - Place Matters: The Role of Place in the Health and Safety of Youth

May 11, 2021| 2:00 PM EDT

Access the archived recording here.

During this second critical conversation, a multi-disciplinary panel will discuss the importance of place and associated impacts of structural racism on the lives of youth. Panelists representing pediatric healthcare, city leaders, youth, and community-based organizations will share their perspectives, experiences, and work related to the role that place plays related to the health and safety of youth. Panelists will participate in open dialogue and engage with attendees to discuss opportunities to work toward change. This discussion will embrace a broad definition of place to consider where young people do or do not comfortably live, work, learn, play, and travel.

Presenters

Pooja Tandon, MD, MPH, FAAP, Seattle Children's Hospital and University of Washington
Andrew O. Moore, National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families
Matthew Perkins, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Donna Griffin, Mount Vernon Manor
Rikeyah Lindsay, Mount Vernon Manor

Moderator

Mona Mangat, Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Recommended Resources

Below is a list of resources offered by STRYVE Action Council members and panelists related to structural racism and youth safety. We will be adding to this continually, so be sure to check back. If you have a resource to suggest, please email info@safestates.org.

Definitions of Racism & Structural Racism:

Racism is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks (which is what we call "race"), that unfairly disadvantages some individuals and communities, unfairly advantages other individuals and communities, and saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources. (Jones, C., "Confronting Institutionalized Racism," 2003 and "How Racism Makes People Sick," 2016)
Structural racism is a system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various, often reinforcing ways to perpetuate racial group inequity. It identifies dimensions of our history and culture that have allowed privileges associated with “whiteness” and disadvantages associated with “color” to endure and adapt over time. Structural racism is not something that a few people or institutions choose to practice. Instead, it has been a feature of the social, economic, and political systems in which we all exist. (The Aspen Institute, "Glossary for Understanding the Dismantling Structural Racism/Promoting Racial Equity Analysis)
Structural racism in the U.S. is “the normalization and legitimization of an array of dynamics – historical, cultural, institutional, and interpersonal – that routinely advantage whites while producing cumulative and chronic adverse outcomes for people of color. It is a system of hierarchy and inequity, primarily characterized by white supremacy – the preferential treatment, privilege and power for white people at the expense of Black, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Arab and other racially oppressed people.” (Lawrence, K. and Keleher, T., Chronic Disparity: Strong and Pervasive Evidence of Racial Inequalities, Poverty Outcomes, Structural Racism, 2004)