Strategic Directions 2009

Our Strategic Directions outline our key areas of commitment and where we will focus our human and financial resources over the next three years. They represent areas where we can best focus our efforts in reducing racial disparities within diverse Black communities in Canada. Our Strategic Directions, not in priority order, are as follows:

Ensure Our Sustainability
We will identify and actively pursue funding with a particular focus on establishing ongoing funding to support our daily operations. We will nurture positive relationships with existing and new funders and donors. We will collaborate with others who support our vision in an effort to raise monetary and other resources to support our activities. We will engage all levels of the BHA in our pursuit to increase our financial resources.

Enhance the Response to Racial Disparities and Health Inequities
We will undertake efforts and use various communication vehicles to inform key stakeholders of issues related to racial disparities and health inequities. We will promote who we are and what we do to a wide range of stakeholders. We will establish ourselves as a key resource around issues related to the health of Black people and the Black community. We will participate in and/or lead efforts and activities to achieve our mission and realize our vision, including influencing public policy. We will strengthen and build relationships, collaborations and partnerships with individuals and organizations that share our vision.

Effectively Engage Our Membership
We will engage our membership to actively participate in the work and life of the BHA. We will foster better communication and coordination among our membership. We will increase and diversify our membership through outreach and marketing of the BHA. We will facilitate educational opportunities to enhance the knowledge base of our membership and other key stakeholders.

Strengthen Our Research Capacity
We will pursue leadership and innovation in community-based, culturally competent health research. We will develop strong partnerships and collaborations with researchers, research bodies and related institutions. We will undertake initiatives to inform and attract health and social researchers. We will conduct and advocate for effective, participatory research with practical outcomes that can be translated into real life changes. We will measure and document our results. We will engage the community as a source and recipient of information and knowledge, and support the efforts of others to do the same.