On Saturday, April 24, over 1,000 residents, community-based organizations, elected officials and philanthropic leaders had a unique opportunity to join our virtual Best Start Region 1 Driving Equity and Justice Community Town Hall. Together, we unveiled the Best Start Region 1 Driving Equity and Justice Community Bill of Human Rights: A living and breathing call to action, developed by residents most impacted by systemic inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, in partnership with community-based organizations.

Event attendees:

• Honored those that we have lost or have become ill due to COVID-19 or to other tragedies and we were unable to be at their side to lay them to rest, with a minute of silence.
• Learned about the COVID‐19 response and recovery efforts led by the Best Start Region 1 Distribution Hub Network.
• Heard from experts in the fields most impacted by COVID‐19, in a panel moderated by a Mayra E. Alvarez, The Children’s Partnership and Biden-Harris Administration COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force member.
• Were introduced to the Best Start Region 1 Driving Equity and Justice Community Bill of Human Rights developed by residents in partnership with community‐based organizations.
• Participated in workshops that replicated the elements of the process to develop the Bill of Human Rights.
• Learned how to sign on to the Community Bill of Human Rights and get involved in the Partnership’s implementation.

Best Start Region 1 was able to showcase its tried and tested Community Partnership Model with the following panelists:

• Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health, Los Angeles County
• Cony Villalbazo, Community Resident Leader, Best Start Region 1: Metro LA Community Partnership
• Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza, Executive Director, Anti-Racism Diversity and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office
• Holly Mitchell, Supervisor of District 2, Los Angeles County
• Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilmember of District 8, City of Los Angeles
• Tanya Franklin Ortiz, Board Member, Los Angeles Unified School District

Our model is committed to an authentic partnership with community members most impacted by systemic barriers, in the developing, implementing and evaluating equity-based and social justice informed solutions to current and historical systemic oppression.

Panelists had the opportunity to share reflections and recommendations on how government agencies and institutions can use the Best Start Region 1 Community Impact Data through an equity lens to inform policy and systems change, as well as what they need to do differently to address the disproportionate impact on low-income communities.

Additionally, given the lack of an effective COVID-19 response, panelists shared how government agencies and institutions could rethink how they partner with marginalized community residents to strengthen institutions and systems.

Finally, panelists explored how government agencies and institutions should partner with the Best Start Region 1 Community Residents to ensure the Community Bill of Human Rights becomes a reality.

The event included a robust presentation of the Community Bull of Human Rights by community residents, a subsequent panel conversation, and the opportunity to delve into workshop topics such as Building a Participatory Process, Community Leadership and Systems Change, Exploring the roots of disparity: The Myth of Meritocracy, Understanding Inequity, Systems of Power, and Local Budgeting and Racial Equity, Social Justice and the Social Determinants of Health.

The following reactions were shared by community residents:

“As a community, we can create change, as long as we are willing to do so.”

“What stood out for me is knowing that everything that Best Start groups do on behalf of the community is excellent and motivating to keep learning about leadership.”

“What stood out for me was when the bill of rights was presented because that is what we all want to see happen, more safe housing, clean streets and taking into account the those of us that are undocumented.”