HealthLinc is deeply saddened by the recent events highlighting the continued social injustice that plagues our nation. I understand some may feel angry and others may feel lost. The senseless killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and many others has deepened a wound that remains embedded in the fabric of our society and a stain on our history. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the many instances of racial injustice, our country has endured a lot of turmoil in the last few months. These events show us how much work needs to be done to create a world where Black Lives Matter. We support the need for change and are hopeful for our nation to improve racial inequities. HealthLinc pledges to address barriers in access to care, health disparities and racial disproportionality in delivering healthcare. We are committed to the communities we serve.

Centuries of racism and oppression have been part of our society for four hundred years. We must take a stand and share our voices to seek change and reform. HealthLinc is one of 14,000 community health centers who serve over 30 million people in medically underserved communities. Born out of the civil rights and social justice movement of the 1960s, the nation’s community health centers serve to this day as advocates for quality care and health equity for all. As a leader in the community, we are a source of education, a bridge to other community services and a champion for meaningful change. From our humble beginnings as Project Neighbors in the Hilltop neighborhood of Valparaiso for almost twenty-five years, HealthLinc has existed to provide exceptional health care to ALL in need, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or ability to pay. We acknowledge the need to be culturally and linguistically sensitive to the needs of our patients.

Alongside other community health centers across the country, we will continue to provide these vital services while standing in solidarity with those fighting against racism and discrimination.  We will continue to fight for equity in health care, and we will continue to see health care as a right and not a privilege.

We call upon our national and local leaders and look within ourselves to create real and lasting change. We must push hard for legislation and policies that create demonstrable differences in the current environment. We must have those hard conversations which promote change. In consideration of past and recent racial injustices we must promote equality and advocate for the dismantling of systemic racism. We must work hard to affect real and positive change to our justice and law enforcement systems. We will not stand by silently and allow this injustice to continue. We stand with you as a partner, as an ally and as an advocate. We walk in the path of hope for equality and justice.