In order to place a greater emphasis on racial equity, the Racial Equity Institute (REI) Phase I workshops and debriefings were held in spring of 2017 and 2018 for local health department staff and partners in the region. Thanks to the Partnerships to Improve Community Health for funding the REI Workshop in 2017 and to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation for funding the workshop in 2018.
The workshop provided participants with an opportunity to explore the historical basis of racial inequality in the United States as well as one’s personal experiences and feelings regarding race. The debriefing allowed participants to further process what they learned and discuss how they might be able address racial inequities in their personal or professional lives. Approximately thirty participants were able to take place in this two-day workshop each year.