February is Black History Month – a time to celebrate and honor the rich history, stories, of contributions of Black Americans. This month, our Culture Champions team worked to identify staff who felt comfortable and willing to film a personal video message, which would be shared on our social media pages and internally through emails. The six individuals selected were each provided a short and specific question – “What is a message you’d like to share this Black History Month?”
A few spoke about the importance of mental health and the stigma around it, especially in the Black Community. One discussed how important fatherhood was to him as an African American man. Another spoke about education – things they teach in school – but also the cultural lessons we learn through our families and friends, passed down from generation to generation. All messages showcased the unique perspectives of our staff – and how important it is to acknowledge our differences to foster more awareness, belonging, and empowerment for those we serve, our staff, and the community as a whole.
At Metrocare, we are committed to integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout our organization. Our leadership considered it a responsibility to foster this mindset not only for the community, but internally with staff. Our hiring practices over the last ten years have resulted in a diverse workforce – one that reflects the clients we serve here in Dallas. Of our more than 1,000 employees, we represent: African American/Black (36%), White (43%), Asian (7%), LGBTQ+ (14%), LatinX (21%), Female (71%), and Male (29%). Additionally, our nine-member Board of Trustees, appointed by Dallas County Commissioners Court, is equally diverse and is comprised of 60% male and 40% female; and approximately 25% representation each for Caucasian, Black, Hispanic, and Asian board members.
Our hope this Black History Month – and every day – is to continue acknowledging, educating, and celebrating the countless achievements made by the Black community, both past and present.
Click the links below to watch our Black History at Metrocare Video Series
Ifetayo Smalls
Ifeoma Oyeka
Jasmine Brown
Abel Akhidue
Shaniqua James
Dr. Jamaica Chapple
Stay connected
Sign up for our newsletter
