ERASE Racism's June 12th fundraising gala is only three weeks away. In this edition of EMERGE we spotlight two additional honorees: Joan R. Saltzman and North Shore-LIJ Health System. You will also find exciting news about the Youth Roundtable with our 2012 Honoree and Tuskegee Airman Dr. Roscoe C. Brown.

Many of you have already shown your support of ERASE Racism by purchasing sponsorships, tickets, journal ads or making contributions. I sincerely thank you. If you haven't signed up as yet, it's not too late. I hope you will take this opportunity to support our work by visiting the benefit page today to make your purchase.  

In the midst of preparations for our Garden City Hotel gala, our important programmatic activities go forward in full force. To that end, I'm calling your attention to an article, which I wrote, that was published by Newsday Westchester entitled "Gross: County Must Hold Up Its End of HUD Deal."

ERASE Racism's first housing report in 2005 identified numerous impediments to fair housing on Long Island. We identified how county and local governments were not taking appropriate actions, as required under federal fair housing requirements, to address housing discrimination. Overwhelmingly, municipalities have not made sufficient strides toward change, housing discrimination continues and Long Island is still one of the most racially segregated regions in the country.

Long Island and Westchester County are similar in many ways, including the fact that all three counties have been collecting federal funds and certifying that they were affirmatively furthering fair housing, when the evidence is not there to support that claim.  The difference between Nassau and Suffolk counties and Westchester is that due to a successful lawsuit, in 2009 Westchester County entered into a landmark desegregation agreement.

Based on ERASE Racism's past and ongoing fair housing investigations, I believe that Long Islanders need to pay close attention to this case. Please follow this link to read my article.

Regards,

V. Elaine Gross

President        

Joan Saltzman is the embodiment of inspiring leadership, civic responsibility and generous philanthropy. Her work is best known on Long Island, but her influence has extended across the state. As an advocate and activist, she has shown rare courage and commitment in working to protect Long Island's and New York State's most vulnerable residents, combating discriminatory policies and practices, and strengthening and expanding health and human services to include African American and Latino residents and underserved communities. Ms. Saltzman has served as a member of key state and local policy and planning bodies.

In 1960, Ms. Saltzman helped found the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Association, serving as a board member and also president. In 1972, she co-founded Community Advocates, a non-profit organization that has been a major catalyst for social and racial justice, affordable housing and housing for homeless individuals and families on Long Island. She served as president for 14 years and still serves on its board and executive committee. She was a founder of the Long Island Community Foundation in 1978, serving on its board and grants committee for more than 30 years, and also a founder of the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls (recently renamed the Long Island Women's Fund). She is Chair of the Advisory Board of the Joan and Arnold Community Services Center, which she and her husband helped establish at Hofstra University.

Ms. Saltzman has been a long-time supporter of ERASE Racism.  When asked about her involvement with the organization she said, "I have watched ERASE Racism forcefully work to defeat the racism that still exists in our communities; I want to be a part of that important work."   

ERASE Racism will honor Ms. Saltzman for her life-time commitment to social justice and to helping people in need.

The North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System began in 1997 with the merger of two separate hospital systems - the North Shore Health System and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Today, 15 years later, the North Shore-LIJ Health System has a service area that includes more than seven million people throughout the New York metropolitan region. North Shore-LIJ recognizes its obligations to the diverse communities it serves and is committed to promoting an environment that supports the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, health literacy and community.

To demonstrate its commitment to these principles, in July 2010 the Health System and the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine established the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Literacy, headed by Jennifer Mieres, MD.

Being sensitive to cultural beliefs and customs, both among patients and fellow team members, is critical to achieving the Health System's mission to deliver quality care to patients and families throughout its 15 hospitals, more than 200 ambulatory care centers and other programs.  

A few examples of the initiatives implemented to accomplish this goal include:

• The Administrative Fellowship Program that was started seven years ago with the mission of training a multicultural group of future health care leaders.
• The partnership with North Shore-LIJ's corporate university, the Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI), to initiate classes on Diversity, Inclusion and Health Literacy.
• The creation of a website for the Office with accessible health information for the public in Spanish as well as English.
• The establishment of a health literacy volunteer program to assist individuals with navigation through the hospital setting.
• The initiation of new partnerships with organizations that focus on literacy skills and promote health literacy to reduce disparities.

ERASE Racism will honor The North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System for being a visionary leader for equity and excellence in healthcare.  Dr. Mieres will accept the award.