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FAACT

A Statement from the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team about Racism, Food Allergy Disparities, and Health Inequities

June 7, 2020

We at the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) stand in solidarity with the Black community and condemn systemic racism. Recent devastating events have left many in our nation and in our food allergy community grieving and suffering pain, anger, and fear in which no words can accurately describe. Within our food allergy community, overwhelming racial, economic and health inequities exist. But we can stop systemic racism and address these inequalities.

FAACT is standing up to structural racism and food allergy disparities.

We are listening. We are listening to Black and people of color food allergy leaders who have been suffering in our own community and nation to hear their words clearly.

We are learning. We are starting with ourselves and are internally addressing implicit bias, structural racism and diversity and inclusion. We are committed to having the hard conversations. We commit to meeting with Black and people of color community leaders to learn how we can support their efforts.

We are acting today. We are committed to long-term sustainable practices, diversity and inclusion in our leadership, volunteers, events, and activities. We commit to encouraging food allergy researchers to focus on food allergy disparities. We commit to racially safe and inclusive events and activities. We will continue to work to support the food insecure and those who are at-risk. And, we commit to creating a Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board to help us better understand and serve our community.

We need to do better. We will do better. Not just for today, but every day.