Heartland Alliance
January 20, 2021
Evelyn Diaz, President
Heartland Alliance
Today is a historic day–the culmination of a long journey back to a federal administration that believes in treating all people with decency and respect, that values democracy and the rule of law, and that wants to bring equity and opportunity for all. Even if our next U.S. President and Vice President fail to live up to our standards perfectly, we and the participants we serve will benefit from a more just and humane federal administration. Perhaps we can even heal.
For more than 130 years Heartland Alliance has been dedicated to removing systemic and institutional barriers to health and healing, safety and justice, and economic opportunity. Our work is far from done, and repairing the damage of the last four years will not happen overnight, but I believe that President Biden’s first 100 days will set the course for many future decisions that deeply impact our participants and our work.
- Health and healing: We have lost so many loved ones to COVID-19, and the pandemic has highlighted staggering health care disparities among vulnerable populations and communities of color. President Biden’s immediate rollout of a national vaccination program, as well as plans for expanding and strengthening health care coverage will be pivotal to our work.
- Safety and justice: The repeal of the Trump administration’s “America First” vision for U.S. foreign policy and the reinstatement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are instrumental to the safety of many of those we serve. We look forward to welcoming immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers again and are hopeful for the federal government’s efforts to root out systemic racism.
- Economic opportunity: The Biden administration’s plan for economic recovery amid the pandemic will help provide a safety net for many of our participants. This includes direct cash for families, extended unemployment insurance, paid leave, and housing supports.
These changes signal important opportunities for the people we serve around the world. We will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and at our health clinics. We will continue to provide safe and supportive housing. We will welcome immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and help them find safety and stability. And we will continue our work to mitigate the disproportionate impacts of poverty and systemic oppression through our program and policy efforts.
These past four years have been exceptionally challenging and yet, I am inspired by the courage I have seen rise from adversity. I hope that, like me, you will see this new era as a chance to double-down on our mission and commitment to our participants and to make real progress on achieving equity and opportunity for all.
Sincerely,
Evelyn Diaz
