Please click here for a summary document with all anti-oppression concepts from 2021. 

As we enter a new year and embark on a new journey, we have another opportunity to strive to become a competent community. Competent communities are able to accommodate and cater to the needs of a wide range of identity groups - ideally all identity groups (Iscoe, 1974). In particular, the concept was created with the purpose of avoiding the exclusion of people living with disabilities from local communities. This was due to communities' failure to meet their needs, such as care for people living with disabilities, education, leisure, employment, or social life. With respect to anti-oppressive practices, this can be extended to include the provision of all of these services to people of all identities, both young and old, of all gender identities and all sexual orientations, economically and socially disadvantaged, as well as disabled and non-disabled. As with the concept of "social capital" (Field, 2002), the strengthening of networks and relationships within communities is linked to increased competence and achievement by the community.

So, let us celebrate one another's roles within the departmental community and commit to working individually and collectively toward improving our community as a whole.

This Black History Month, you will have the opportunity to learn about the many contributions Black people have made to this country and throughout, as well as the resilience of Black people. With this year's focus on Black Health and Wellness, you will gain insight into the activities, rituals, and initiatives of black communities in the African Diaspora. The theme explores "the legacy of not just Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other forms of knowing (e.g., birth workers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. Bringing things closer to home, there are several archives of Black contributors at UAB campus wide including this department.

This collection of articles examines UAB's history of Black contributors both on campus and within the health system that enabled all diverse groups to participate in school and practice both medically and administratively at UAB.

• Black History Month, Part 1: Remembering the Roots of Our Community and Taking Action
• Black History Month, Part 2: UAB's First Black/African American Students in Medicine

I had the pleasure of attending the celebration of the Alabama Humanities Alliance's fellows for 2022, Bryan Stevenson and Congressman John Lewis. Alabama Poet Laureate Ashley Jones presented a prestigious sonnet in their honor. The luncheon was inspiring, and I learned a lot about John Lewis and Bryan Stevenson. What most fascinated me was the fact that these two extraordinary humanitarians had lived parallel lives to which they dedicated themselves to truth-telling or uncovering history in the service of freedom. A quote from Bryan Stevenson, "We confront fear through history in order not to repeat offense." The moment I heard this quote, I immediately thought of our anti-oppression concept sharing. Its purpose is to shed light on ideas and concepts that speak truth to the past, highlighting areas that can be restored in the hope of promoting healing.

So, as we celebrate Women's History Month, Zero Discrimination Day, and International Women of Color Day this month, let us be brave and examine terms that shed light on the history of social devaluation of all women (Misogyny), including women of color (Misogynoir) and trans women. Confronting the social devaluation of women can be done through the lens of the anti-oppression concept of social transformation. Social transformation refers to changes in institutionalized relationships, norms, and values. In particular, social transformation for women refers to changes in society resulting from women's contributions to economic development, scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, and political transformation. This is through their commitment to combating these issues. When you understand historical terms that once devalued women, you can appreciate how important it is to celebrate ALL women and lend a hand whenever possible. In this way, you can correct the injustices of social devaluation. The more aware we are of how ALL women are devalued, the less likely we will succumb, but even more importantly, the more likely we will act.

Below are articles that shed light on the terms mentioned above:

• Women's History Month
• Zero Discrimination Day
• International Women of Color Day
• Trans Visibility Day
• What is Social Devaluation
• Misogyny
• Misogynoir
• Controlling Images and Black Women's Oppression 

You can find more resources below that connect our local history to the national discourse.

• Recognizing Lucy, Betsey, and Anarcha
• The Mothers of Gynecology Park

The impact of stereotypes is well understood. Not only do stereotypes affect our perception of people, but also how we perceive others and how this impacts our behavior. Similarly, this is true for healthcare providers, patients, and society in general. When health professionals respond to information about a patient's social group status, they typically engage in stereotyping, associating it with the patient's characteristics. The practice is referred to as a stereotype threat. Add to that the nuanced biases of the healthcare system (payment status, disease/condition, guidelines/protocols/standard of care, power dynamics) and you can see how for some patients engaging with healthcare and providers can be challenging.

Taking stock of one's biases and slowing down before engaging with someone can help counter stereotype threat. Getting to know the individual and understanding what makes them unique and how they differ from you culturally and personally is most significant.

The resources listed below shed light on stereotyping threats in different spaces and how to counter them.

• The Patient Experience: Stereotype Threat in Medical Care
• Why They Leave: The Impact of Stereotype Threat on the Attribution of Women and Minorities from Science, Math and Engineering Majors
• Stereotypes in Health Care can Make Patients Feel Worse, Study Finds

Inclusion and Accessibility to Combat Ableism

The Center for Disabilities Rights defines ableism as "a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities and often rests on the assumption that disabled people need to be 'fixed' in one form or the other." Consequently, individuals with disabilities have fewer opportunities to advocate for things that able-bodied people take for granted, like going to the doctor, speaking for themselves about health concerns, and attending the desired higher education institution.

"Ableism is intertwined in our culture due to many limiting beliefs about what disability does or does not mean, how able-bodied people learn to treat people with disabilities and how we are often not included at the table for key decisions." Access to information, meetings, how information is communicated, technology, and other things are considered when disabled individuals sit at the decision-making table in organizations. A discussion of accessibility is also on the agenda to ensure that everyone is taken into account.

Everyone benefits from accessibility, including the able-bodied. Accessible sidewalks and ramps to building entrances have enabled independent travel for anyone with wheels, whether on bicycles, strollers, wheelchairs, etc. Incorporating people with disabilities at the table and having a conversation about improving things more inclusive and suitable for everyone is essential.

The resources listed below shed light on issues and concerns around ableism and accessibility.

• Center for Disability Rights - Ableism
• Read more about accessibility here.

Commemoration is a term that emphasizes remembrance, honor, and observing different cultures, people, and places. May commemorates AAPI heritage, and June commemorates Pride and Juneteenth. Please take a moment to view the videos below. These videos offer brief histories of these various cultures and communities to understand their history, as our history is shared with them.

• COMMENTARY: AAPI Heritage Month begins | Mic Drop
• What is Juneteenth? The history behind the holiday celebrating the end of slavery
• Why Do We Have Gay Pride Month in the U.S.?

July is a month in which we celebrate people and holidays associated with peace, justice, and liberty. Thurgood Marshall, the Fourth of July, International Day of Friendship, Nelson Mandela, and others are among them. Let us commemorate these days by being agents of social change.

To address systemic problems of injustice, we will engage power holders and the broader society while promoting an alternative vision or solution. Movement building is the term used to describe this effort. Over a long period, movement building requires a range of intersecting approaches.

As a result of movement building, our Departmental Community can:

• Propose solutions to the root causes of social problems;
• Enable people to exercise their collective power;
• Humanize groups that have been denied basic human rights and improve conditions for the groups affected;
• Create structural change by building something larger than a particular organization or campaign; and
• Promote visions and values for society based on fairness, justice and democracy.

There was a discussion regarding allyship during the summer session with the second cohort of CU2RE students and how they can show these traits professionally and personally. Most participants wanted to be allies but were unsure when and how to do so. I am sharing a link that gives helpful information about different shades of allyship in the community that was shared with them: When Healing Means Finding Your Role in the (R)evolution

Allied individuals recognize their privilege (based on gender, class, race, sexual identity, etc.) and work in solidarity with oppressed groups in the struggle for justice, understanding that it is in their interests to end all forms of oppression, even those from which they may directly benefit.

Allies commit to reducing their own complicity and collusion in oppressing those groups and invest in strengthening their own knowledge and awareness.

The UAB ODEI Health Systems Instagram page has published a post on workplace allyship that encourages us to assess our workspace and find ways to support our colleagues.

Autumn marks the beginning of returning to school to further one's education. To refresh and hopefully kick-start discussion within the department, here are a few basic concepts often discussed within the CU2RE program and DEI space.

Most of the concepts are familiar to us, or we have heard them before but have never delved into them. However, as lifelong learners, understanding these concepts allows us to have more in-depth conversations in our professional and personal spaces and see how they may affect our lives and neighboring communities.

Click here for DEI Concepts to review.

The relationship between the community and service providers, patient experience, health outcomes, and inequities can be influenced by cultural knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs. Practicing cultural competence—foundational knowledge and skills to provide effective care in a multicultural society—and cultivating cultural humility—committing to lifelong learning and critical self-reflection—are essential for healthcare professionals, especially physicians who often lead healthcare teams.

When you combine cultural competence with humility, you will tackle institutional hierarchies and power imbalances, implement inclusive organizational policies, celebrate diversity, and develop relationships with patients, colleagues, and the community based on mutual trust and respect.

The Social

This will be our second month of "The Social," a communal space where we explore DEI concepts through the messaging of podcasts, movies, articles, documentaries, books, and more.

This month, we will continue the conversation of Culture by discussing the importance of embracing both cultural competence and humility. Furthermore, we will discuss the importance of service provider’s ability to operate along the continuum of competence and humility in various situations

Below are this month’s resources for viewing. Each resource highlights cultural competence and humility in the community. 

• Article (10-min read): Cultural Competence or Cultural Humility? Moving Beyond the Debate
• Article (10-min read): Integrating Cultural Humility into Health Care Professional Education and Training
• YouTube video (29:28 runtime): Cultural Humility: People, Principles, and Practices - Melanie Tervalon and Jann Murray-Garcia

Also, see an additional resource on cultural global health work: Culture Matters: The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook

There are a variety of considerations we should remember while performing the duties of a higher education institution where we serve the community (patients or clients) and are responsible to our students. Over the quarter, we have reflected on Culture, which focused on the individual, organizational, cultural competence, and cultural humility.

With these concepts in mind, let us examine our beliefs, values, and customs to understand how each affects our decisions and behaviors. This concept is called intercultural awareness. By looking inward and studying our Culture, we can better inform, teach, and interact with our broader community.

Being culturally aware also enhances our ability to be culturally intelligent. Developing cultural intelligence means exploring and gaining a deeper understanding and awareness of our Culture while developing more proficient skills in problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and decision-making in various personal and professional contexts.

Although they are described as soft skills, they significantly impact how we act daily and positively influence the community in which we live.

The Social

In this month's session of The Social, we will round out the quarter and the year by discussing cultural awareness and intelligence concepts. Check out the resources below:

• Cultural Awareness in Healthcare: A Checklist: article, (3:29 min. read)
• Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and Higher Education: article (5:39 min. read)
• Grey's Anatomy "Bring the Pain": TV series, Season 2, Episode 5 (43 min. watch), available on Netflix

On the third Saturday of each month, the Be a Blessing Birmingham team transports tubs of sorted clothes, shoes, snacks, and 200 packed bags to Linn Park in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. There they set up distribution lines and provide breakfast for our neighbors.

Each person receives a hygiene kit, two rolls of toilet paper, a pair of socks, and bottled water. Women receive additional products to cater to individual needs. They provide each person with an outfit, a pair of shoes, and season-appropriate aids to remain comfortable no matter the weather.

Volunteer

Click here to view upcoming events from the UAB Medicine Diversity Calendar. 

Click here for a list of events for the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy.

Click here for a list of events happening in Birmingham. 

Click here to view the report made by the I2C2 team after conducting listening sessions with various groups within the Department of Family and Community Medicine. 

A full resource list, compiled by the I²C² team, is available for personal and professional learning and growth. Click here to view the list. Please email Shyla K. Fields with questions.