A Statement from our NOSA Leadership

 

 

June 8, 2020

It is hard to find words to articulate what we are all feeling as the world reacts to the unlawful death of George Floyd, and the countless lives before him. For a long time, we have fallen for the notion that there is no room in the professional space for discussions around matters of systemic racism. However, members within our community are grieving and we owe it to them, and ourselves, to have this conversation.

As future and current healthcare providers, we have taken on the responsibility of providing high-quality care to our communities, and those communities include Black people. NOSA has a long history of serving Columbus’ Black community, be it through glaucoma or school screenings. Our role in supporting them cannot and should not end here - NOSA wants to provide a more concrete and substantial way for our members and the college to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

As you know, our mission is to advance the visual health of minority and under-served communities. Education plays a crucial role in this mission. In order to move forward, we need to humbly admit our faults and strive to be informed. We are eager to get back on campus and continue programming efforts, but in the meantime, we have compiled resources to aid you as you begin to unpack the complexity of systemic racism.

Resources:

  1. University Resources
    1. Counseling and Consultation Services
      1. Make an appointment:
        1. https://ccs.osu.edu/secure/appointments/
        2. 614-292-5766
      2. Shawn Levstek (levstek.4@osu.edu)
    2. Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) program
      1. 614-293-STAR
  2. Donate & support local/national efforts in defense of Black Lives
    1. George Floyd Memorial Fund
      1. The Official GoFundMe to support the family of George Floyd
      2. https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
    2. Ahmaud Arbery Memorial Fund
      1. The Official GoFundMe to support the family of Ahmaud Arbery
      2. https://www.gofundme.com/f/i-run-with-maud
    3. Breonna Taylor Memorial Fund
      1. The Official GoFundMe to support the family of Breonna Taylor
      2. https://www.gofundme.com/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor
    4. Columbus Freedom Fund
      1. CFF aims to help post bail for those wrongfully arrested during the protests happening across our city
      2. https://www.paypal.me/columbusfreedomfund
    5. Campaign Zero
      1. Supports research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America
      2. https://www.joincampaignzero.org
    6. NAACP Legal Defense Fund
      1. Founded in 1909, this is the first and largest grassroots-based civil rights organization
      2. https://www.naacpldf.org
  3. Read, Listen and Reflect
    1. Anti-Racism Resources compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein
      1. bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES
    2. The Praxis Project Resources
      1. Literature, videos, podcast, and numerous resources outlining ways to learn and get involved with social change focusing on racial disparities in healthcare and justice system
        1. https://www.thepraxisproject.org
    3. Literature
      1. “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
      2. “Medical Apartheid” by Harriet A. Washington
      3. “Between The World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
      4. “So You Want to Talk About Race”  by Ijeoma Oluo
    4. Research
      1. “Understanding and Addressing Racial Disparities in Health Care”
        1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4194634/
      2. “Reducing Racial Disparities in Health Care by Confronting Racism”
        1. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/2018/sep/focus-reducing-racial-disparities-health-care-confronting
    5. The Daily Show
      1. Trevor Noah does an excellent job explaining the events that led to today
      2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4amCfVbA_c&feature=youtu.be
    6. Netflix Documentaries
      1. When They See Us
      2. See You Yesterday
      3. 13th
      4. American Son
      5. Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap
    7. Podcasts
      1. All My Relations
      2. 1619
      3. Lynching in America
      4. Code Switch
  4. Reach out to friends & let your friends know you are an ally

 

We are here as a resource and support for all who need it. Keep fighting in the defense of Black lives.

 

In solidarity & with strength,

NOSA Executive Board