ONE YEAR LATER…
By Rebecca Eyre, CEO
This time last year, America was shaken to its core by the murder of George Floyd. In the wake of that undeniable injustice, individuals and organizations alike declared that Black lives matter and made pledges to do better to support Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC). And Project HEAL was one of those organizations.
But declarations and pledges are not enough. Action is required.
Project HEAL is more committed than ever to expanding our understanding of the role race plays in the eating disorder experience and in the American healthcare system, and we remain committed to incorporating our ever-growing awareness into the very fabric of our programs, policies, practices, and people. While we understand there is so much work to be done to eradicate and eliminate structural racism in the eating disorders arena, we would like to share some of the investments and changes we’ve made in accordance with our promises to support the BIPOC community.
Over the past 12 months, we have:
Provided $11,750 in direct cash assistance to BIPOC
Helped 58 BIPOC access free or low-cost eating disorder treatment
Added 9 new team members at every level of the organization, so that Project HEAL more accurately reflects the true spectrum of people with eating disorders
Established a Program Committee to audit and help improve our programs, particularly regarding their efficacy to serve those of our beneficiaries that are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or otherwise marginalized
Created a Transparency Framework in partnership with the Pivotal Paradigm Project
Brought in a number of talented educators from both inside and outside the eating disorder community to lead our team in unpacking complex issues like identity, intersectionality, privilege, systemic oppression, eugenics, implicit bias, harm reduction, anti-racism at work, and more
Hired the brilliant Milton Reynolds to provide ongoing 1:1 leadership & DEI mentorship to me in my ongoing learning as a CEO
Added explicit anti-racism, anti-oppression, and equity commitments to our core organizational values, as well as our internal values and HR practices
Allocated a portion of our annual operating budget for quarterly DEI trainings and workshops for our Board, staff, and volunteers
Created a BIPOC Treatment Equity Project so that donors can directly support the 29% of our beneficiaries that are BIPOC
With our goal of accessible eating disorder treatment for all, we must differentiate between equality and equity. While equality means everyone is treated the same exact way regardless of need or any other individual difference, equity means everyone is provided with what they need to succeed. When it comes to mental health, all clinicians are acutely aware of the need for individualized treatment, because we know: when it comes to recovery, one size does not fit all.
Equity is what is needed, so equity is our north star.
I meant what I said last July - we’re in this for the long haul.
In solidarity,
Rebecca Eyre, MA, LMHC
Chief Executive Officer