The Center for Health Equity reflects on 2022

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 01/27/2023 10:59 AM CST
minnesota department of health

The Center for Health Equity reflects on 2022

Dear Staff and Health Equity Partners,

As we each look forward with hope and optimism for the next year's possibilities, I want to mark 2022 as a significant year for health equity in Minnesota. We laid a foundation for the future with the launch of the Health Equity Bureau, strengthened our fantastic team, won several awards from the communities we serve, helped to save many from COVID-19, learned, survived, and now move forward with a focus on repair, recovery, and hope.

As we reflect on this past year, there is much to be thankful for such as our families, our communities, and our co-workers. We are humbled and honored by what we've been through together during the traumas, challenges, and successes of the pandemic. Throughout all the trials we have faced, we can be proud that we remained focused on community-centered programs, advancing equity and health justice.

As health equity staff and partners, you have accomplished so much in the face of continued stress from systemic injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota is fortunate to have such a passionate, committed, and resilient workforce across the Health Equity Bureau, the Minnesota Department of Health, Local Public Health, and community partners.

Together, we've achieved too much to list here, but this is a good time to pause and note some pandemic-specific accomplishments such as the following:

  • More than $90 million dollars to more than 200 community organizations serving communities most impacted by inequities, including populations of color, American Indians, LGBTQIA+, Persons Living with Disabilities, and refugees and immigrants across Minnesota.
  • 57,323 vaccinations through our Covid-19 Community Coordinator partners across Minnesota.
  • Hosted over 2,187 testing and vaccination events and distributed over 70,000 tests.
  • Supported more than 100 unique community engagement and diverse media contractors throughout the pandemic.
  • In this year alone, community engagement contractors have directly reached more than 250,000 individuals and 7,000 community leaders from communities most impacted by COVID-19, and diverse media contractors have reached individuals more than 53 million times with lifesaving messages.
  • Provided translation in 14 different languages, produced 411 multilingual videos on COVID-19 prevention and created 434 culturally tailored resources for the community.

And we're happy to note that communities noticed our efforts. Our team received several awards from the communities we serve including the following:

  • The Leadership Award from the African Leaders Association,
  • La Familia Leadership Award
  • Sarah Simmons Community Service Award from the Minnesota African/African American Women,
  • Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from AMHS, and
  • Frontline Worker Award from the MN Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans.

We are so grateful to all of our amazing staff, our community, and local public health partners for collaborating with us in our pursuit of a more fair, healthy, and equitable Minnesota. It sure hasn't been easy. We are reminded that though seeking health for all can be hard, chaotic, and often requires a couple of tries to get it right, we can foster the change we want to see when we hold close to our values.

As we look to 2023, we are profoundly grateful to you and for our team's ongoing support, hard work, and tenacity as we find our footing and strive to create impact, improve access, and advance equity in our under-resourced communities. We look forward to continuing our mission into 2023.

In partnership and solidarity,

Dr. Halkeno Tura, Director for Center for Health Equity