This email will spark JOY

"Won’t it be wonderful when black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” ―Maya Angelou.

Black History Month has been observed in the United States since 1976. We observe and celebrate Black history—which is inherently American history—at a time when debates about which narratives can be included in school curricula across many states. More people are choosing to challenge longstanding racist narratives and find creative ways to uplift narratives that are rooted in racial justice, abundance, and radical joy.
 
Racial justice, health equity, and resilience are embedded into each of our portfolios—health, safety, and wellbeing. We want to honor this month to celebrate moments of Black joy. From conversations about joy as resistance to centering racial justice in mental health policy solutions. Black history is happening now. It is vibrant, it is resilient, and it is in the business of building a future that is rooted in justice and equity.

Last June, we hosted a conversation with one of our Communities of Care collaboratives, The Future is US-Galveston (TFIU), to celebrate Juneteenth, which began in Galveston, Texas. Jonathan Warren (TFIU) was joined by PI staff Roosevelt Neely, La’Quana Williams, and LySaundra Campbell to discuss the history of Juneteenth and the revolutionary act of Black joy as resistance. Watch the conversation.

Sana Chehimi, Director of Policy and Advocacy interviewed Isha Weerasinghe, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) about how supporting mental health and wellbeing for communities of color is essential for an equitable COVID-19 recovery. Isha described how CLASP is broadening their understanding of mental health and wellbeing and developing policy solutions and strategies that are otherwise overlooked by applying a racial justice lens to mental health. Listen on SoundCloud | Listen on Apple Podcasts

Need to refresh your to-be-read list? Check out some of the books PI staff are reading that center Black joy and healing.

• Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto (Tricia Hersey)
• Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds (adrienne maree brown)
• The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (Nikole Hannah-Jones)
• How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community (Mia Birdsong)
• Life, I Swear: Intimate Stories from Black Women on Identity, Healing, and Self-Trust (Chloe Dulce Louvouezo)