Stratis Health has made a $10,000 contribution to the Center for Economic Inclusion, the nation’s first organization dedicated to advancing inclusive and equitable growth to achieve regional prosperity. Amid the upheaval caused by the pandemic and the racial justice crisis, the Stratis Health Board of Directors voted to redirect its 2021 Building Healthier Communities grant program to a one-time gift to an organization dedicated to promoting racial equity and economic justice in our home community.

“It is an honor to celebrate Stratis Health’s 50th anniversary with this donation to a cross-sector organization committed to strengthening the Minneapolis-St. Paul regional civic infrastructure to catalyze shared prosperity and advance an inclusive economy,” said Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO. “It’s a way for us to advocate for investments that lead to enduring improvements to support inclusive growth and community health.”

This gift is well-aligned with Stratis Health’s long-standing commitment to pursuing health equity. As part of this commitment, Stratis Health has recently signed a public pledge to address systemic racism in health care, along with 30 other Minnesota health care organizations and stakeholders. There are a dozen specific actions committed as part of that pledge, several of which directly correlate to this gift.

“Our ability to close racial wealth gaps is inextricably linked to improving the quality of life and health for Minnesotans, and Stratis Health’s investment in the Center for Economic Inclusion will help us build an economy that works for everyone,” said Tawanna Black, Center for Economic Inclusion founder and chief executive officer. “We are honored to be recognized during the 50th-anniversary celebration. Our organizations share an appreciation for innovation, data-informed solutions, and cross-sector partnerships, and these values will propel our efforts to dismantle systemic racism and build new economic engines with racial equity in the center.”

For more information about Stratis Health and its 50th-anniversary initiatives, contact Jean Hanvik (jhanvik@stratishealth.org). For more information about the Center for Economic Inclusion, contact Ethelind Kaba (ekaba@centerforeconomicinlusion.org).