HOSA’s Commitment to Make a Difference

Producing a vaccine for COVID-19 is of extreme importance but equally important is finding a cure for a 400-year infection called systemic racism. We are proud to be associated with fellow health professionals who, after long hours of caring for patients battling coronavirus, go to the street to show their support of those protesting for equal opportunity and justice for all — no more no less. If the goal of HOSA-Future Health Professionals is saving lives, we understand that life is precious and we should respect, value, and treat each life accordingly. HOSA-Future Health Professionals is committed to ensuring that all youth are valued and safe, and that the inequitable systems young people face every day are addressed for change to a equity. As a partner of America’s Promise, HOSA-Future Health Professionals raises its voice along side hundreds of other youth serving partners to support the unified statement, “Racial Trauma and Young People – Why We Can’t Stay Silent!” America’s Promise to Make a Difference

America’s Promise to Make a Difference

June 01, 2020

Like so many others, we were deeply pained by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis this past Monday. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Violence against Black Americans, as we’ve seen with the recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others this year alone, is emblematic of the systemic racism that remains in our country. The accumulation of incidents like these, either experienced or witnessed, can have a profound effect on our young people, particularly young people of color. They worry that people in positions of power do not value and respect the worth of each individual and that there’s a real reason to fear for their safety when they go about their daily lives.

As leaders of youth-supporting organizations, we cannot be silent. These acts of violence are manifestations of the inequities and injustices that far too many of our young people encounter on a regular basis. We know that this week’s headlines are a symptom of a larger problem—one that cuts across every aspect of society, including schools and other systems that serve young people and their families. We must continue to address the well-documented psychological and developmental damage that occurs as a result of systemic racism. Decades of research have linked racial trauma experienced by children to chronic stress, inflammation, lower self-esteem, worsened sleep, and even chronic disease.

This trauma is not lost on young people. In the youth-led Barriers to Wellness report, many young people described racism as a threat to their health and well-being. In particular, young people of color cited feeling overpoliced, undervalued, and unsafe in their own communities. They also indicated a lack of trust in and fear of police, leading to anxiety and avoidance of public places. Our young people cannot learn and thrive if they fear for their own safety and well-being. As adult allies, it is our responsibility to create space for the pain and suffering of so many young people and communities, to actively engage in strategies to help mitigate and prevent racial trauma, and equip adults with the tools to show up as allies, mentors, and supports.

As leaders of national youth-supporting organizations, we are committed to working hand-in-hand with communities and young people across the country to address these challenges and their root causes. We know that this work takes time and concerted effort. We balance the fierce urgency of now with humility for the persistent challenge that many have fought for so long to address. All of our organizations want to make clear our deep commitment to ensuring young people of color are valued and safe, and that the inequitable systems young people face every day are reimagined and rewired for justice and equity.

Afterschool Alliance

After-School All-Stars

Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Alliance for Excellent Education

America’s Promise Alliance

Aspen Institute – Opportunity Youth Forum

ASPIRA Association

AVID.org

Black Educational Events, LLC

Boys & Girls CLubs of America

Camp Fire

CASEL

Center for the Study of Social Policy

Child Trends

CHOICES Education Group

Citizen Schools

City Year

Civic

Cohen Strategy Group, LLC

College Possible

Communities In Schools

Concentric Educational Solutions, Inc

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)

Education Northwest

Encore.org

Eye to Eye

FHI 360

First Book

First Focus on Children

First Tee

FoodCorps

Friends of the Children

Girls Inc.

GLSEN

Healthy Teen Network

Higher Achievement

Hispanic Heritage Foundation

HOSA-Future Health Professionals

I’m First!

Jobs for the Future

Jumpstart

KABOOM!

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Learning Heroes

MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership

Mikva Challenge

Mocha Moms, Inc.

NAF

National 4-H Council

National Association of Secondary School Principals

National Association of State Boards of Education

National Center on Time & Learning

National College Attainment Network

National Partnership for Educational Access

National PTA

National Summer Learning Association

National Youth Leadership Council

ParentChild+

Peace First

Playworks

Points of Light

Q.E.D. Foundation, Inc.

Rural School and Community Trust

Search Institute

Share our Strength

SIATech Schools

Springboard Collaborative

Stand for Children

Story Tapestries, Inc.

Student Alliance for Mental Health Innovation and Action

Susan Glendining PC

The Denver Foundation

The Education Trust

The Forum for Youth Investment

The Steppingstone Foundation

Turnaround for Children

United Way Worldwide

University Research & Review Inc

US Dream Academy

Voices for National Service

WorkingNation

Youth Communication

Youth Service America