The Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force About Andrea Harris A native North Carolinian, the late Andrea Harris was a trailblazer for minority businesses and communities. A graduate of Bennett College, Harris became one of the youngest community agency directors in the nation, helping fight poverty across three rural North Carolina communities. An unwavering passion to help others in need, she co-founded the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development in 1986, where she served as president in 1990. Located in the heart of Durham, the Institute supports minority and women-owned businesses. After retiring from the Institute, Harris continued to serve on several boards including the state's Advisory Council for Historically Underutilized Businesses, where she was appointed in 2017. She is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for state service granted by the Office of the Governor as well as an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Bennett College. December 2021 Biannual Report June 2021 Biannual Report December 2020 Biannual Report 2020 Policy Recommendations Check out listening session section for info on Feb. 24 public comment session About the Task Force Purpose Established under Executive Order No. 143, the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force addresses the social, environmental, economic, and health disparities in communities of color disproportionally impacted by COVID-19. The Task Force is named in honor of the late civil rights activist, Andrea Harris, who dedicated her life to eliminating disparities in North Carolina, co-founding the non-profit Institute of Minority Economic Development in Durham and serving on the state’s Advisory Council for Historically Underutilized Businesses. The five focus areas of the Task Force are: Access to Healthcare Economic Opportunity and Business Development Educational Opportunity Environmental Justice and Inclusion Patient Engagement Read the full press release announcing the Task Force here. Goal To create economic stability, eliminate health disparities, and achieve environmental justice in North Carolina. Guiding Principles Put People First North Carolina’s citizens are our greatest asset. As a subset of our communities remain underserved and with less access to resources and opportunity, it inhibits our ability to ensure that our citizens, and our State, reach their full potential. Ensure Sustainability of Efforts COVID-19 has shed light on economic and health disparities in North Carolina. However, once we are past COVID-19, we must ensure that we continue to build towards, and maintain, a system that provides more equal and stable access to economic opportunities and healthcare. Make Efforts Adaptable to Change and Scalable to Needs As we learn more about COVID-19, and any other challenges we may face, we must ensure that North Carolina’s policies are structured to adjust to new information and challenges. In addition, any efforts undertaken must be scalable to manage increased needs over time. Ensure Transparency and Accountability Providing full information regarding efforts and their effectiveness lends itself towards ensuring that human and economic capital are best utilized to achieve relevant goals. Objectives The Task Force will focus on the following areas: 1. Access to healthcare for underserved communities. Monitor and report best practices to increase access to telehealth and broadband internet-based medical treatment; Monitor and report whether North Carolinians have adequate insurance coverage in responding to COVID-19 and managing underlying health conditions; and Assess application of the "Medical Home" approach to providing comprehensive, family-centered, and culturally competent care that meets the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of all North Carolinians. 2. Enhanced patient engagement in healthcare settings. Encourage medical professionals to engage communities of color to gather information and provide a platform for transparency and inclusion; Support and identify opportunities to increase the number of minority health professionals servicing communities of color; and Encourage increased cultural competence in the provision of care for communities of color. 3. Economic opportunities in business development and employment. Assess and report ways the state may further support historically underutilized businesses; Advance economic recovery by prioritizing actions that create quality employment opportunities for the North Carolina workforce; Assess and report opportunities for organizational capability and capacity building; and Prioritize workforce development across all sectors (including healthcare workforce development). 4. Environmental Justice and Inclusion. Enhance public engagement and increase public participation by low income, minority communities in Department decisions and actions; Quantify health and welfare benefits of pollution reduction and identify opportunities to increase the deployment of clean energy resources; Advance climate justice by prioritizing actions that equitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change, and advance sustainable economic and infrastructure recovery efforts for low-income, minority and vulnerable communities; and Encourage and enhance environmental justice, inclusion and equity education. 5. Create educational opportunities for communities of color in the following areas: Health literacy; Financial literacy; and General academia. In addition, the Task Force shall make recommendations on strategies to increase funding for health education in community centers servicing vulnerable communities. Learn More About Executive Order 143 Executive Order 143 addresses the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. View and download the executive order here. Meet the Members of the Task Force Member Name Professional Affiliations County In July 2020 Machelle Sanders was appointed Chair of the Andrea Harris Task Force while serving as Secretary of the NC Department of Administration. In 2021, Sanders was appointed Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce. Access to Healthcare Subcommittee | Subcommittee Chair: Dr. Giselle Corbie-Smith Dr. Giselle Corbie-Smith Kenan Distinguished Professor of Social Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill Director, UNC Center for Health Equity Research Professor of Internal Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill Orange Dr. Catherine Harvey Sevier Managing Director, The Generations Study Group, LLC Adjunct Professor of Public Health, UNC-Greensboro Guilford Andres Henao Member, Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs Manager, Triangle Implant Center Orange Rep. Donny Lambeth Representative, North Carolina 75th District Forsyth Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University Durham Benjamin Money Deputy Secretary for Health Services, NC Department of Health and Human Services Wake Dr. Carlos Rish Owner and Medical Director, Centro Médico Latino Mecklenburg Annette Taylor Member, NC Council for Women Advisory Board Minority Business & Community Affairs Manager, NC Education Lottery Adjunct Professor, NC Central University Wake Economic Opportunity & Business Development | Subcommittee Chair: Rep. Yvonne Holley Walter David Baucom Senior VP, MAL Entertainment President and CEO of Baucom Group & Associates Mecklenburg Lynn Bottone Vice President of Biotech Operations, Pfizer Wake Adriana Chavela Member, Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs Founder/Executive Director, Hola Community Arts Buncombe Rep. Yvonne Holley Representative, North Carolina 38th District Wake Dale Jenkins CEO, Curi Holdings, Inc. Wake C.C. Lambeth Chair, Governor's Advisory Council for Historically Underutilized Businesses Owner and CEO, C2 Contractors, LLC Guilford Stephanie McGarrah Executive Director, NC Pandemic Recovery Office Durham Kevin J. Price President and CEO, The NC Institute of Minority Economic Development Durham Trey Rabon President, AT&T North Carolina Wake Educational Opportunities | Subcommittee Chair: Pat Martinez Dr. Lenora Campbell Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences, NC A&T State University Guilford Pat Martinez Member, Governor's Commission on Inclusion President and CEO, Leadership in the Clouds Mecklenburg Quinny Sanchez MSW | Health Care Access, Stakeholder Engagement, Community Outreach Union Margaret Weller-Stargell Chair, NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services Waiver Advisory Committee President and CEO, Coastal Horizons Center New Hanover Environmental Justice and Inclusion | Subcommittee Chair: Rev. Dr. Jonathan Augustine Senior Pastor, St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church Author, "Environmental Justice in the Deep South," University of San Francisco Law Review 2013 Durham Dr. James H. Johnson Jr. Chair, NC Department of Environmental Quality's Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board William R. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center, UNC Kenan-Flager Business School Orange Greg Richardson Executive Director, NC Commission of Indian Affairs Wake Rev. Dr. Anthony Spearman President, NC NAACP Guilford Patient Engagement | Subcommittee Chair: Cornell Wright Dr. Cedric Bright Associate Dean of Admissions, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine Pitt Dr. Rhett Brown Medical Director for LGBTQ+ Health Services and Family Physician, Novant Health Mecklenburg Yazmin Garcia Rico Director of Latinx and Hispanic Policy and Strategy, NC Department of Health and Human Services Wake Dr. Charlene Green Anesthesiology, Cone Health Guilford Dr. Sonyia Richardson Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work and BSW Program Director, UNC-Charlotte Cabarrus Juvencio Rocha Peralta Executive Director and Founder, Association of Mexicans in NC (AMEXCAN) Pitt Gene Woods President and CEO, Atrium Health Mecklenburg Cornell Wright Director, NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Wake Support the Work of the Task Force Members of the public who are interested in supporting the work of one of the Task Force subcommittees can fill out a survey to indicate interest here. Proposed Recommendations by the Task Force Subcommittees Recommendations: Executive Order No. 143 states that, “By December 1, 2020, and every six (6) months thereafter, the Task Force shall provide to the Office of the Governor a status report on the progress and recommendations made in the focus areas determined by Section 1 of this Executive Order.” The initiatives highlighted below are not official recommendations made by the Task Force. In an attempt to remain transparent in its scope of work, the Task Force invites members of the public to comment on the potential areas for action highlighted below: Access to Healthcare: Increase access to broadband and telemedicine in North Carolina, particularly, in rural counties and communities of color. Utilize the medical home approach in providing comprehensive family centered and culturally competent care that meets the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of all North Carolinians. Economic Opportunity and Business Development: Increase utilization of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) for goods and services. Support workforce development programs and initiatives in the public and private sector. Educational Opportunity: Host public virtual roundtables with physical medical professionals, mental health professionals, higher education leaders, and other relevant professionals. Environmental Justice and Inclusion: Evaluate the feasibility and/or designate a permanent full-time position on Environmental Justice, Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and at the Office of Emergency Management. Conduct an inventory on aging infrastructure and buildings (schools, senior centers, etc) that have exposure to radon, asbestos, mildew, mold, etc. and consider remediation projects of impacted facilities for job creation initiatives. Develop a legislative strategy: Additions/changes to statutes and rules to incorporate environmental Justice criteria into regulatory actions. Patient Engagement: Identify the best cultural competency practices in health agencies across North Carolina via survey and implement a uniform training across the state. Create or sponsor an initiative (or policies) that requires data collection to cover all demographics (race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc.). Task Force & Subcommittee Meeting Dates The Andrea Harris Task Force, established by Executive Order 143 shall meet bi-monthly for the duration of the State of Emergency, and quarterly thereafter. Date Time Meeting February 2, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Task Force Meeting March 2, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Task Force Meeting (Cancelled) April 6, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Task Force Meeting Meeting Information: Agendas, Minutes and Presentations Task Force Meeting - April 6, 2022 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the April 6 convening here Task Force Subcommittee Meeting - March 23, 2022 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - February 2, 2022 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the February 2 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meeting - January 19, 2022 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - December 1, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the December 1 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - November 17, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - October 6, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the October 6 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - September 27, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - August 4, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the August 4 convening here. Task Force Meeting - July 14, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the July 14 convening here. Task Force Meeting - June 2, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the June 2 convening here. Task Force Meeting - May 4, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the May 4 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - April 21, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - April 7, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the April 7 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - March 24 & 25, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Patient Engagement Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - March 10, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the March 10 convening here. Task Force Meeting - February 10, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the February 10 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - January 27, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - January 13, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the January 13 convening here. Task Force Meeting - December 2, 2020 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the December 2 convening here. Task Force Meeting - November 18, 2020 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the November 18 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - November 4, 2020 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - October 21, 2020 View a recording of the Access to Healthcare Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Patient Engagement Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - October 7, 2020 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the October 7 convening here. View the NC Broadband and Telehealth Presentation here. View the NC Medicaid & Telehealth in a Pandemic Presentation here. Task Force Listening Session - September 22, 2020 View a recording of the listening session on topics concerning access to healthcare, economic opportunity and business development, educational opportunity and patient engagement here. View a recording of the listening session on topic concerning environmental justice and inclusion here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - September 16, 2020 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - September 2, 2020 Agenda View a recording of the September 2 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meeting - August 27, 2020 View a recording of the Economic Opportunity and Business Development Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - August 19, 2020 View a recording of the Access to Healthcare Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Educational Opportunities Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Patient Engagement Subcommittee meeting here. Inaugural Task Force Meeting - August 5, 2020 Agenda View a recording of the August 5 convening here. Task Force Listening Sessions Listening Session The Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee hosted a listerning session on Thursday, February 24 from 6 - 7:30 pm to hear comments from the public on priority areas for addressing environmental justice concerns across the state. Meeting introductions were offered in both English and Spanish. Click here to view the recorded listening session. Missed the listening session and have a comment to share? Members of the public can submit comments through March 17, 2022. You may send your comments/suggestions in one of three ways. Complete the Andrea Harris Task Force public feedback form. Leave a voicemail at (919) 707-8626 Mail correspondence to NC Department of Administration ATTN: Andrea Harris Task Force 1301 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1301 Topics for Discussion (You may comment on one or more of the following topics) What areas of state laws should include references to Environmental Justice or equity criteria? Are there specific examples from other states that should be used in North Carolina? What areas should be prioritized in creating criteria that could be used across the state? State purchasing/spending/funding? Infrastructure (water/sewer, wastewater, broadband, etc.) Zoning regulations? Licensing? Barriers to economic participation? Cumulative impact? Other? What are the equity gaps you see in your communities and what are your suggestions for closing those gaps? What are the current housing needs you see in your community? What are the job creation needs in your community? What are the health care needs in your community? What are the educational and childcare needs in your community? In light of federal funds becoming available, how would you prioritize the equity needs for North Carolina communities? What do you see as priorities for the spending of federal funds in low-income communities? What guardrails/targets should be added to improve equity in state funding decisions? How has COVID-19 impacted your communities? What equity gaps has the pandemic exposed? What statutory changes are needed to address these gaps? Past Listening Sessions Members of the Task Force Subcommittees announced initial proposals to improve disparities in communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. View proposed recommendations here. How You Can Comment On Proposed Subcommittee Recommendations Additional public comment sessions will be announced in the future. Listening sessions were held September 22 and 29, 2020 on the Task Force's five core areas. Missed a session? View recorded listening sessions below. Listening Sessions Date September 22, 2020 September 29, 2020 Agenda Meeting Agenda Meeting Agenda Topic(s) Access to Healthcare* Economic Opportunity and Business Development Educational Opportunity Patient Engagement* Environmental Justice and Inclusion Missed the session? Watch the September 22, 2020 listening session here. Watch the September 29, 2020 listening session here. * - This topic was originally scheduled for the September 15 listening session, which was cancelled. The listening session schedule was modified to include two dates, September 22 and 29. Topics originally scheduled for September 15 were featured during the September 22 listening session. Thank you!
The Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force About Andrea Harris A native North Carolinian, the late Andrea Harris was a trailblazer for minority businesses and communities. A graduate of Bennett College, Harris became one of the youngest community agency directors in the nation, helping fight poverty across three rural North Carolina communities. An unwavering passion to help others in need, she co-founded the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development in 1986, where she served as president in 1990. Located in the heart of Durham, the Institute supports minority and women-owned businesses. After retiring from the Institute, Harris continued to serve on several boards including the state's Advisory Council for Historically Underutilized Businesses, where she was appointed in 2017. She is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award for state service granted by the Office of the Governor as well as an honorary doctorate from her alma mater, Bennett College. December 2021 Biannual Report June 2021 Biannual Report December 2020 Biannual Report 2020 Policy Recommendations Check out listening session section for info on Feb. 24 public comment session About the Task Force Purpose Established under Executive Order No. 143, the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force addresses the social, environmental, economic, and health disparities in communities of color disproportionally impacted by COVID-19. The Task Force is named in honor of the late civil rights activist, Andrea Harris, who dedicated her life to eliminating disparities in North Carolina, co-founding the non-profit Institute of Minority Economic Development in Durham and serving on the state’s Advisory Council for Historically Underutilized Businesses. The five focus areas of the Task Force are: Access to Healthcare Economic Opportunity and Business Development Educational Opportunity Environmental Justice and Inclusion Patient Engagement Read the full press release announcing the Task Force here. Goal To create economic stability, eliminate health disparities, and achieve environmental justice in North Carolina. Guiding Principles Put People First North Carolina’s citizens are our greatest asset. As a subset of our communities remain underserved and with less access to resources and opportunity, it inhibits our ability to ensure that our citizens, and our State, reach their full potential. Ensure Sustainability of Efforts COVID-19 has shed light on economic and health disparities in North Carolina. However, once we are past COVID-19, we must ensure that we continue to build towards, and maintain, a system that provides more equal and stable access to economic opportunities and healthcare. Make Efforts Adaptable to Change and Scalable to Needs As we learn more about COVID-19, and any other challenges we may face, we must ensure that North Carolina’s policies are structured to adjust to new information and challenges. In addition, any efforts undertaken must be scalable to manage increased needs over time. Ensure Transparency and Accountability Providing full information regarding efforts and their effectiveness lends itself towards ensuring that human and economic capital are best utilized to achieve relevant goals. Objectives The Task Force will focus on the following areas: 1. Access to healthcare for underserved communities. Monitor and report best practices to increase access to telehealth and broadband internet-based medical treatment; Monitor and report whether North Carolinians have adequate insurance coverage in responding to COVID-19 and managing underlying health conditions; and Assess application of the "Medical Home" approach to providing comprehensive, family-centered, and culturally competent care that meets the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of all North Carolinians. 2. Enhanced patient engagement in healthcare settings. Encourage medical professionals to engage communities of color to gather information and provide a platform for transparency and inclusion; Support and identify opportunities to increase the number of minority health professionals servicing communities of color; and Encourage increased cultural competence in the provision of care for communities of color. 3. Economic opportunities in business development and employment. Assess and report ways the state may further support historically underutilized businesses; Advance economic recovery by prioritizing actions that create quality employment opportunities for the North Carolina workforce; Assess and report opportunities for organizational capability and capacity building; and Prioritize workforce development across all sectors (including healthcare workforce development). 4. Environmental Justice and Inclusion. Enhance public engagement and increase public participation by low income, minority communities in Department decisions and actions; Quantify health and welfare benefits of pollution reduction and identify opportunities to increase the deployment of clean energy resources; Advance climate justice by prioritizing actions that equitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change, and advance sustainable economic and infrastructure recovery efforts for low-income, minority and vulnerable communities; and Encourage and enhance environmental justice, inclusion and equity education. 5. Create educational opportunities for communities of color in the following areas: Health literacy; Financial literacy; and General academia. In addition, the Task Force shall make recommendations on strategies to increase funding for health education in community centers servicing vulnerable communities. Learn More About Executive Order 143 Executive Order 143 addresses the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. View and download the executive order here. Meet the Members of the Task Force Member Name Professional Affiliations County In July 2020 Machelle Sanders was appointed Chair of the Andrea Harris Task Force while serving as Secretary of the NC Department of Administration. In 2021, Sanders was appointed Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce. Access to Healthcare Subcommittee | Subcommittee Chair: Dr. Giselle Corbie-Smith Dr. Giselle Corbie-Smith Kenan Distinguished Professor of Social Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill Director, UNC Center for Health Equity Research Professor of Internal Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill Orange Dr. Catherine Harvey Sevier Managing Director, The Generations Study Group, LLC Adjunct Professor of Public Health, UNC-Greensboro Guilford Andres Henao Member, Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs Manager, Triangle Implant Center Orange Rep. Donny Lambeth Representative, North Carolina 75th District Forsyth Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University Durham Benjamin Money Deputy Secretary for Health Services, NC Department of Health and Human Services Wake Dr. Carlos Rish Owner and Medical Director, Centro Médico Latino Mecklenburg Annette Taylor Member, NC Council for Women Advisory Board Minority Business & Community Affairs Manager, NC Education Lottery Adjunct Professor, NC Central University Wake Economic Opportunity & Business Development | Subcommittee Chair: Rep. Yvonne Holley Walter David Baucom Senior VP, MAL Entertainment President and CEO of Baucom Group & Associates Mecklenburg Lynn Bottone Vice President of Biotech Operations, Pfizer Wake Adriana Chavela Member, Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs Founder/Executive Director, Hola Community Arts Buncombe Rep. Yvonne Holley Representative, North Carolina 38th District Wake Dale Jenkins CEO, Curi Holdings, Inc. Wake C.C. Lambeth Chair, Governor's Advisory Council for Historically Underutilized Businesses Owner and CEO, C2 Contractors, LLC Guilford Stephanie McGarrah Executive Director, NC Pandemic Recovery Office Durham Kevin J. Price President and CEO, The NC Institute of Minority Economic Development Durham Trey Rabon President, AT&T North Carolina Wake Educational Opportunities | Subcommittee Chair: Pat Martinez Dr. Lenora Campbell Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences, NC A&T State University Guilford Pat Martinez Member, Governor's Commission on Inclusion President and CEO, Leadership in the Clouds Mecklenburg Quinny Sanchez MSW | Health Care Access, Stakeholder Engagement, Community Outreach Union Margaret Weller-Stargell Chair, NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services Waiver Advisory Committee President and CEO, Coastal Horizons Center New Hanover Environmental Justice and Inclusion | Subcommittee Chair: Rev. Dr. Jonathan Augustine Senior Pastor, St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church Author, "Environmental Justice in the Deep South," University of San Francisco Law Review 2013 Durham Dr. James H. Johnson Jr. Chair, NC Department of Environmental Quality's Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board William R. Kenan Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center, UNC Kenan-Flager Business School Orange Greg Richardson Executive Director, NC Commission of Indian Affairs Wake Rev. Dr. Anthony Spearman President, NC NAACP Guilford Patient Engagement | Subcommittee Chair: Cornell Wright Dr. Cedric Bright Associate Dean of Admissions, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine Pitt Dr. Rhett Brown Medical Director for LGBTQ+ Health Services and Family Physician, Novant Health Mecklenburg Yazmin Garcia Rico Director of Latinx and Hispanic Policy and Strategy, NC Department of Health and Human Services Wake Dr. Charlene Green Anesthesiology, Cone Health Guilford Dr. Sonyia Richardson Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work and BSW Program Director, UNC-Charlotte Cabarrus Juvencio Rocha Peralta Executive Director and Founder, Association of Mexicans in NC (AMEXCAN) Pitt Gene Woods President and CEO, Atrium Health Mecklenburg Cornell Wright Director, NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Wake Support the Work of the Task Force Members of the public who are interested in supporting the work of one of the Task Force subcommittees can fill out a survey to indicate interest here. Proposed Recommendations by the Task Force Subcommittees Recommendations: Executive Order No. 143 states that, “By December 1, 2020, and every six (6) months thereafter, the Task Force shall provide to the Office of the Governor a status report on the progress and recommendations made in the focus areas determined by Section 1 of this Executive Order.” The initiatives highlighted below are not official recommendations made by the Task Force. In an attempt to remain transparent in its scope of work, the Task Force invites members of the public to comment on the potential areas for action highlighted below: Access to Healthcare: Increase access to broadband and telemedicine in North Carolina, particularly, in rural counties and communities of color. Utilize the medical home approach in providing comprehensive family centered and culturally competent care that meets the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of all North Carolinians. Economic Opportunity and Business Development: Increase utilization of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) for goods and services. Support workforce development programs and initiatives in the public and private sector. Educational Opportunity: Host public virtual roundtables with physical medical professionals, mental health professionals, higher education leaders, and other relevant professionals. Environmental Justice and Inclusion: Evaluate the feasibility and/or designate a permanent full-time position on Environmental Justice, Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and at the Office of Emergency Management. Conduct an inventory on aging infrastructure and buildings (schools, senior centers, etc) that have exposure to radon, asbestos, mildew, mold, etc. and consider remediation projects of impacted facilities for job creation initiatives. Develop a legislative strategy: Additions/changes to statutes and rules to incorporate environmental Justice criteria into regulatory actions. Patient Engagement: Identify the best cultural competency practices in health agencies across North Carolina via survey and implement a uniform training across the state. Create or sponsor an initiative (or policies) that requires data collection to cover all demographics (race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc.). Task Force & Subcommittee Meeting Dates The Andrea Harris Task Force, established by Executive Order 143 shall meet bi-monthly for the duration of the State of Emergency, and quarterly thereafter. Date Time Meeting February 2, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Task Force Meeting March 2, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Task Force Meeting (Cancelled) April 6, 2022 10 am - 12 pm Task Force Meeting Meeting Information: Agendas, Minutes and Presentations Task Force Meeting - April 6, 2022 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the April 6 convening here Task Force Subcommittee Meeting - March 23, 2022 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - February 2, 2022 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the February 2 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meeting - January 19, 2022 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - December 1, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the December 1 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - November 17, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - October 6, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the October 6 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - September 27, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - August 4, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the August 4 convening here. Task Force Meeting - July 14, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the July 14 convening here. Task Force Meeting - June 2, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the June 2 convening here. Task Force Meeting - May 4, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the May 4 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - April 21, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - April 7, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the April 7 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - March 24 & 25, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Patient Engagement Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - March 10, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the March 10 convening here. Task Force Meeting - February 10, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the February 10 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - January 27, 2021 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - January 13, 2021 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the January 13 convening here. Task Force Meeting - December 2, 2020 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the December 2 convening here. Task Force Meeting - November 18, 2020 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the November 18 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - November 4, 2020 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - October 21, 2020 View a recording of the Access to Healthcare Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Patient Engagement Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - October 7, 2020 Agenda Meeting Minutes View a recording of the October 7 convening here. View the NC Broadband and Telehealth Presentation here. View the NC Medicaid & Telehealth in a Pandemic Presentation here. Task Force Listening Session - September 22, 2020 View a recording of the listening session on topics concerning access to healthcare, economic opportunity and business development, educational opportunity and patient engagement here. View a recording of the listening session on topic concerning environmental justice and inclusion here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - September 16, 2020 View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Meeting - September 2, 2020 Agenda View a recording of the September 2 convening here. Task Force Subcommittee Meeting - August 27, 2020 View a recording of the Economic Opportunity and Business Development Subcommittee meeting here. Task Force Subcommittee Meetings - August 19, 2020 View a recording of the Access to Healthcare Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Educational Opportunities Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee meeting here. View a recording of the Patient Engagement Subcommittee meeting here. Inaugural Task Force Meeting - August 5, 2020 Agenda View a recording of the August 5 convening here. Task Force Listening Sessions Listening Session The Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee hosted a listerning session on Thursday, February 24 from 6 - 7:30 pm to hear comments from the public on priority areas for addressing environmental justice concerns across the state. Meeting introductions were offered in both English and Spanish. Click here to view the recorded listening session. Missed the listening session and have a comment to share? Members of the public can submit comments through March 17, 2022. You may send your comments/suggestions in one of three ways. Complete the Andrea Harris Task Force public feedback form. Leave a voicemail at (919) 707-8626 Mail correspondence to NC Department of Administration ATTN: Andrea Harris Task Force 1301 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1301 Topics for Discussion (You may comment on one or more of the following topics) What areas of state laws should include references to Environmental Justice or equity criteria? Are there specific examples from other states that should be used in North Carolina? What areas should be prioritized in creating criteria that could be used across the state? State purchasing/spending/funding? Infrastructure (water/sewer, wastewater, broadband, etc.) Zoning regulations? Licensing? Barriers to economic participation? Cumulative impact? Other? What are the equity gaps you see in your communities and what are your suggestions for closing those gaps? What are the current housing needs you see in your community? What are the job creation needs in your community? What are the health care needs in your community? What are the educational and childcare needs in your community? In light of federal funds becoming available, how would you prioritize the equity needs for North Carolina communities? What do you see as priorities for the spending of federal funds in low-income communities? What guardrails/targets should be added to improve equity in state funding decisions? How has COVID-19 impacted your communities? What equity gaps has the pandemic exposed? What statutory changes are needed to address these gaps? Past Listening Sessions Members of the Task Force Subcommittees announced initial proposals to improve disparities in communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. View proposed recommendations here. How You Can Comment On Proposed Subcommittee Recommendations Additional public comment sessions will be announced in the future. Listening sessions were held September 22 and 29, 2020 on the Task Force's five core areas. Missed a session? View recorded listening sessions below. Listening Sessions Date September 22, 2020 September 29, 2020 Agenda Meeting Agenda Meeting Agenda Topic(s) Access to Healthcare* Economic Opportunity and Business Development Educational Opportunity Patient Engagement* Environmental Justice and Inclusion Missed the session? Watch the September 22, 2020 listening session here. Watch the September 29, 2020 listening session here. * - This topic was originally scheduled for the September 15 listening session, which was cancelled. The listening session schedule was modified to include two dates, September 22 and 29. Topics originally scheduled for September 15 were featured during the September 22 listening session. Thank you!