Skip to main content

State of Cultural Competency

It was a great honor to play a part in OHSU's first hosting of the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon's annual State of Healthcare Cultural Competency Community Forum. I attended the inaugural forum in 2009 at PCC Southeast campus, and has seen the event expand and improve each year. 

 The community forum is an opportunity for health equity advocates, community members, and healthcare professionals to come together and share best practices about addressing healthcare disparities among Asian Pacific Islander communities. API groups face unique challenges in combating certain diseases like diabetes, heart disease, liver and cervical cancer, among others. Cultural and linguistic barriers prevent APIs from accessing high-quality healthcare. 

 APANO's theme for this year's State of Cultural Competency Forum was "Stronger Communities, Stronger Families." According to APANO organizers, the theme: 
"... highlights the social and environmental determinants on our families health.  We are dedicated to strengthening Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Oregon by building effective leadership, addressing the root of problems faced by our communities, and improving health and opportunity for our children and families.  Strong communities are communities with real opportunities, equal access and a higher level of civic engagement. From affordable health care and good schools, to family wage jobs and a toxic-free environment with places to play, our communities are shaped by the way we make policy and allocate resources.  APANO works for strong communities in order to support strong families, which are at the center of our Asian and Pacific Islander cultures."
The gathering brought together over 120 people from diverse API cultural backgrounds. Here are a few captures from the daylong event. See you all next year!




 
    

Popular posts from this blog

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...
Read more

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...
Read more

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...
Read more