In celebration of National Racial Healing Day, CHCM CEO Riisa Rawlins reflected on the importance of the holiday and our mission to eliminate health disparities across the state. Please read her reflection below, or click the button to download a copy!
From Surviving to Thriving
Imagine a Missouri where every child celebrates their first birthday, every mother survives childbirth, and every family thrives beyond survival. Today, this vision feels distant. Pregnancy-related deaths are three times higher for Black birthing people than their white counterparts in Missouri. Black babies die at twice the rate of white babies before reaching their first birthday, and Black teens die at a rate three times higher than their white peers. Life expectancy for Black Missourians is more than six years shorter than for their white counterparts, with even greater disparities in some regions.
For Black Missourians, race remains a disturbingly accurate predictor of health outcomes – from our first to our last breath. This reality drives the Community Health Commission of Missouri’s (CHCM) commitment to eliminating health disparities through equity-centered, trauma-informed approaches. Racial healing is foundational to achieving health equity.
The National Day of Racial Healing, established by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2017 and celebrated January 21, 2025, invites us to reflect, reimagine, and renew our commitment to fostering healing spaces and nurturing individuals and organizations working to repair racial divides.
The State of Health Equity in Missouri
In 2021, Missouri’s General Assembly acknowledged racism as a public health crisis through HCR 14 and 27. These resolutions highlighted systemic racism’s historical and enduring impact on housing, education, and healthcare, with measurable disparities in maternal mortality, infant mortality, and life expectancy.
The 2024 Missouri State Health Assessment (SHA) identified significant health challenges, contributing to Missouri ranking 40th among states for overall health. Addressing these issues requires intentional, equity-centered solutions. CHCM is dedicated to stewarding resources and building partnerships to promote healing and reconciliation while addressing the root causes of disparities.
Collaboration as a Path to Healing
Transforming systems requires community. CHCM partners with organizations across Missouri to advance equity and foster healing.
- City of St. Louis Department of Health: We are honored to support the launch of the Pathways to Equity Health Equity Plan, which emphasizes transparency, community engagement, and actionable pathways to change.
- Kansas City Public Schools: Through Equity-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care training, we empower educators and administrators to foster environments where students thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
- University of Missouri Extension: In Southeast Missouri’s “Bootheel” region, we engage a network of Community Consultants to facilitate healing spaces where communities collaborate to address trauma and identify resources for long-term progress.
We are grateful for these and other partnerships that are helping to create a healthier, more equitable Missouri.
Why Racial Healing is Critical
The legacy of racialized trauma in U.S. healthcare has left a deep imprint on health outcomes today. Scholars like Harriet Washington, Dayna Bowen Matthew, JD, PHD and Dr. Uché Blackstock have documented the systemic inequities that persist in healthcare and society.
To build a healthier Missouri, we must heal individuals while reforming systems. Dismantling inequitable systems without addressing personal trauma risks perpetuating harm, just as focusing solely on healing individuals leaves communities vulnerable to repeated trauma. Both must work in tandem to ensure lasting change.
A Hopeful Vision for Missouri
In Sierra Leone, I witnessed the Fambul Tok model of community healing, where collective reconciliation strengthens entire communities. Inspired by this, CHCM will convene leaders across Missouri with delegates from Fambul Tok to share their respective groundbreaking models, exchange ideas, and strengthen our healing practices.
As we observe the National Day of Racial Healing, I challenge you to reflect, connect, and take action. Systems work is generational, requiring fortitude and collaboration. By engaging in healing communities, we equip ourselves and others for the journey toward equity and justice.
Together, we can create a Missouri where every resident thrives—not just survives.
Author Bio: Riisa Rawlins is the CEO of the Community Health Commission of Missouri, where she leads efforts to eliminate health disparities through equity-centered, trauma-informed care. She brings a wealth of experience as an interdisciplinary leader and advocate for health justice. You may contact her at 314-898-4049 or rrawlins@chcmissouri.org.