EDUCATION

1. EDUCATION A Public Health Imperative We believe every person should have an opportunity for a healthy, prosperous life. Black Legacy “Of all the forms of inequality,injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane.”Martin Luther King Jr. “I, for one, believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when people create a program, you get action.” Malcolm X

2. Key to Identifying Outcome Objectives The people defining the “issue” is key to setting outcome objectives.

3. Who Defined The Issue? Vision: Worcester as a place where Black people can feel safe, welcome, and where there is equal opportunity for us to develop and grow. Mission: Improve the health of the Black community in Worcester. Black Legacy is a group of diverse members of the community, predominantly of the African diaspora, that come together to build the health of our Black Community

4. Process of Identifying Outcome Objectives • Are there racial disparities? If so, • What are they • Why do they exist • What are the opportunities to make change • What is the best strategy given the current environment and resources

5. Do Racial Health Disparities Exist? • HIV mortality rates are more than 6 times the rate of their White counterparts • Cardiovascular mortality is twice the rate in Black communities • Breast cancer mortality is twice the rate in Black women • Prostate cancer is twice the rate of incidence • Infant mortality is more than twice the state average • Lung cancer is 10% greater incidence and 40% higher mortality • Colon cancer is 40% higher mortality rates in Black women and mortality rates at • 47% higher • Obesity is higher at 30% compared to 23% of the White community • Diabetes occurs at a higher rate in the Black community YES

6. Why Do They Exist?

7. Why Do They Exist: Power Analysis Nutrition Access to Health Services Housing & Neighborhood Social Safety Net SECONDARY DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH Socio Economic Status EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT PRIMARY DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH Social Inclusion or Exclusion Prevention Institute, Restructuring Government and Addressing Social Determinants of Health

8. GOALS Short-term Goals: Increase the capacity of the Black community and community supports to effectively advocate for policies and practices that increase the academic performance of Black youth. Adoption of policies and practices by the Worcester Public Schools related to accountability measures key to assessing and changing racial academic performance gap and a plan for core curriculum to be implemented district wide. Worcester Legacy will have the capacity to effectively continue the work of health equity in 2011 in the Black community LONG-TERM: Members of the Black community and other community supports are integrated into the delivery of educational and support services in a culturally proficient manner which results in a decreased academic performance gap in Worcester.

9. Short-term Goal 1: Increase the capacity of the Black community and community supports to effectively advocate for policies and practices that increase the academic achievement of Black youth. Objectives Activities Measurement 1: Increase the knowledge the knowledge & skills of 40 members of the Black community and concerned members regarding Health Equity Action. • Black Families for Education Conference • Seminars • Attendance at event • Post-evaluation 2: Increase access to racial health equity and racial performance gap information through internet for 300 members of the Black community • Cyberdrumm.com • Hits on cyberdrumm.com 3: 40 members of the affected community will attend educational – awareness events • Home Parties • Attendance in Home Parties Social Inclusion

10. Short-term Goal 2: Adoption of policies and practices by WPS related to accountability measures key to assessing and changing racial academic performance gap and a plan for core curriculum to be implemented district wide. Objectives Activities Measurement 1:15 members of the affected community will participate in the development of policies and procedures by participating in the following activities by June 2011. • WPS Accountability Committee • WPS Teaching and Learning Committee • WPS Committee • Share information with advocacy base • Attendance at meetings • Role of participants in meeting activities • Adoption of policy or practice Social Inclusion

11. Short-term Goal 3: Worcester Legacy will have the capacity t effectively continue the work of health equity in 2011 in the Black community. Objectives Activities Measurement 1:Members of the Legacy Leadership will participate in 16 hours of targeted leadership development trainings by Sept 2011. The specific training areas include: Community Organizing, Policy Change Strategy, Meeting Facilitation, Inter-cultural Conflict, Cultural Competence, Social Networking for Health Marketing • 8 hour retreat • 4 2-hr trainings to occur quarterly • Attendance trainings • Length of trainings • Training content areas • Role of members in various activities Social Inclusion

12. Internal Goal: EMPOWERMENT Objectives Activities Measurement • 1: Increasing knowledge related to creating structural changes • BFFE Conference • Seminars • Cyberdrumm.com • Home Parties • Report increased knowledge on post-assessment • 2: Increasing accessibility to places where structural changes can take place • WPS Meetings • Participation at policy making tables • Report increased skills on assessment • Observe increased skill 3:Increased skills to affect structural changes • 4: Increased interpersonal supports necessary for sustainable engagement • All of the above • Post-assessment Social Inclusion

13. We believe education is how we will achieve healthy individuals and communities that will be passed on through the generations. Our Legacy is in our hands. “Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you liberate the bodies of men.” Marcus Garvey