On World Diabetes Day, November 14th, Type Diabeat-it hosted Bridging the Gap: Advancing Black Health Equity in Diabetes Care, a collaborative knowledge-mobilization summit held at Innovation Works in London, Ontario.
Supported by the London Community Foundation and powered by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund.
Bridging the Gap serves not only as a forum for dialogue among communities but also as the launch point for year-round, community-driven action.
Mystery Furtado, CEO and founder of Type Diabeat-it, echoed this call during an interview, stressing the importance of cross-sector collaboration.
“We have set the foundation and the groundwork. We want organizations to partner with us and amplify the work we’re doing.” Furtado said,
She highlighted a key policy goal: achieving formal recognition of Afro-heritage meals in the Canadian Food Guide for People with Diabetes.
“We’re open and willing to collaborate. We need bigger voices to hold themselves accountable and partner with us.” She said
Through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, Type Diabeat-it has led substantial community-based initiatives, including the BPOC Diabeat-it Kitchen,
This program not only supports food security and food literacy but also feeds into a place-based, race-based diabetes data tool.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) has established anti-Black racism and Indigenous reconciliation strategies aimed at dismantling structural barriers in healthcare access.
“The Health Unit has been advancing an Indigenous reconciliation plan and an anti-Black racism plan. Both focus on addressing structural barriers to serving Indigenous and Black communities.” Explained Christian Deboud, Manager for Health Equity and Indigenous Reconciliation at MLHU.
Bridging the Gap is only the beginning. Type Diabeat-it will convene quarterly working groups with attendees to transform the ideas and commitments raised at the summit into visible outcomes.
Registration for future gatherings and working groups will be available through the Type Diabeat-it website.
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