Table 1.

Diversity Statement for Restoration Center Planning

The Restoration Center Los Angeles Planning Committee remains committed to the belief that by bringing together community members, faith based organizations, mental health providers, substance abuse providers, and behavioral health researchers in a partnered planning process, we can improve the health and well-being for South Los Angeles Community members of African descent.

As a planning committee, we strive to respect the dignity, individuality, freedom, and beliefs of each member. At the same time, we strive to be a group where individuals and groups of all beliefs learn from each other. We aim to foster a sense of collective responsibility for each other's well-being and the well-being of the community as a whole by focusing on the common experiences of those of African descent in the South Los Angeles community. We acknowledge the challenges inherent in working within the different faiths and belief systems in the African American community of South Los Angeles, yet, we remain unwavering in our commitment to diversity and community for the common goal of creating health and wellness in our community. We seek to enable ALL members of our planning process to express their opinions and beliefs in an environment that recognizes the unique contributions of each individual's experience and beliefs. We believe that the diversity of each individual at the table in our planning process will permit us to take full advantage of the variety of insights, backgrounds, and beliefs of those who live, work and play in South Los Angeles.

Beyond the planning process, the project hopes to provide resources for and support actual operational centers that provide services and support to promote restoration, wellness, and health in the African American communities of Los Angeles. Just as the planning process seeks a process of respectful dialogue and consideration of diversity for developing a plan, we seek to plan for Centers that will themselves address the diverse needs and perspectives of the African American communities. We hope for centers that will be inclusive in addressing groups of different faiths and those who are not associated with a particular faith, as well as other types of diversity within the community. Similarly, we acknowledge the challenges of addressing diverse communities within one center, but seek individuals to help with planning who share this vision of restoration, faith-in-action, and services provision. In this way, we hope to develop the plans and resources for a community that can stand as one in declaring and promoting health, restoration, and mental wellness for all African Americans in Los Angeles, while serving as an example for other communities and cultural groups.

Please join us at the table to help plan the restoration center as we cannot hope to represent you unless you provide us feedback on your most valuable and unique perspective.