Mission Statement:

 

The Mission of the Gándara Center is to promote the well-being of Hispanics, African-Americans and other culturally diverse populations through innovative, culturally competent behavioral health, prevention and educational services.

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Promover el bienstar de Hispanos, Afroamericanos y otras poblaciones culturalmente diversas, por medio de, salud mental competence e innovadora y servicios de prevención educativos. 

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Anti-Racism Statement:

 

Gándara unequivocally stands against hate and racism in all its manifestations.  We are committed to fostering an environment where every individual is treated with respect, dignity, and fairness, regardless of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, ethnicity, cultural background, or ability, etc.

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We pledge to actively challenge and dismantle systemic and institutionalized racism, especially in the behavioral healthcare system.  We recognize that achieving true equity requires intentional and continuous efforts to redress unconscious biases, privilege, and discriminatory practices.

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We commit to the following principles:

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• Inclusion:  We strive to create an accessible and inclusive space where historically excluded voices are heard, valued, and celebrated, and where our staff, and persons-served feel safe and accepted.  We actively seek and welcome diverse perspectives to enrich our discussions, decisions, and actions.

• Education:  We are dedicated to educating ourselves and others about the historical and current impacts of racism, particularly in behavioral health settings.  We will model humility and commit to continuous learning to better understand the experiences of excluded communities and to further the goal sustained change.

• Advocacy:  We will use our platform and resources to advocate for policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.  We acknowledge the impact of systemic racism on behavioral health and will continue to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all our activities.

• Accountability:  We hold ourselves accountable for our actions/inactions and will address any instances of racism within our organization. We will continuously collect information, assess and report our progress, and make necessary changes to ensure we remain aligned with our anti-racism values.

• Collaboration:  We recognize that combating racism requires collective action.  We will actively collaborate with individuals, organizations, key stakeholders, governmental partners, and communities to create a more equitable behavioral healthcare system.

• Equity:  We believe that the equitable allocation of resources and opportunity is an essential pathway to dismantling entrenched systemic racism and discrimination.  We commit to working with partners to promote the equitable allocation of resources to marginalized groups to address disparities and break down barriers is areas such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.  We will provide opportunities for leadership, growth, and advancement.

• Continuous Improvement:  We understand that anti-racism is an ongoing journey.  We are committed to continuously evolving our practices, policies, and behaviors to create a safe and inclusive environment where hateful or dehumanizing language, macroaggressions, oppressive behavior, and racism have no place.  This includes a commitment that oppression in all forms will be recognized, named, and addressed in a timely manner.

 

By embracing these principles, we reaffirm our dedications to the fight against racism and discrimination.  We strive to contribute to a world where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and where diversity is celebrated as a source of strength.

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