With this ringing statement, Janet Langhart Cohen opened the 2nd Annual Race and Reconciliation Conference: Health and Wellness for All.
The 2009 conference brought together an extraordinary and diverse group of academic experts, best-selling authors, policymakers, community representatives, and thought leaders to discuss disparities and inequalities in health and wellness as they relate to race.
In keeping with the spirit of RARIA, the conference addressed sensitive issues with absolute candor, showing again how progress can be made on even the most difficult and divisive issues if our public discourse is elevated by mutual respect and civility.
Participants brought unique and divergent perspectives to the issues, but one point on which most seemed to agree was that access to quality, affordable health care has transcended the realm of public health policy and is becoming one of the great civil rights issues of our time.
