The Center for Advancing Racial Equity (CARE) key purposes include:
- Convening and facilitating organizational change: CARE acts as a catalyst for implementing racial equity initiatives across Atrium Health - Wake Forest Baptist and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
- Implementing the Change Agenda for Racial Equity (Change Agenda): The Racial Equity Task Force and working groups met in 2020 and 2021 to identify fundamental equity issues and develop recommendations for addressing those issues in the summary report – the Change Agenda for Racial Equity. This roadmap guides the Center's early efforts and holds the Center accountable.
- Developing and leading additional strategies: CARE's role goes beyond fulfilling the Change Agenda. It actively seeks new and innovative avenues to address outstanding needs and build upon existing accomplishments.
- Providing high-order leadership and visibility: CARE serves as a central hub for racial equity initiatives within the domains of People, Culture, Patient Care, Education, Research and Community.
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The six domains were adapted from Penn Medicine’s Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Strategic Plan |
Mission
To provide clear Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist-level leadership to implement the Change Agenda and advance racial equity across the organization, with an emphasis on coordinating and aligning existing work, sparking and supporting new work, and building the readiness and capacity for organizational change.
Who Are We
CARE reports to CEO Dr. Julie A. Freischlag and the Dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine Dr. L. Ebony Boulware. CARE is advised by Dr. Brenda Latham-Sadler of the Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and Dr. Jackline Opollo of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI).
