In 2017, with the guidance of our African American Leadership Council, Compassion & Choices began a concerted effort to ensure the African American community was inspired to take charge of their end-of-life planning and care. This includes:
Through this work, we recognize that the first step in reaching the African American community is inspiring more conversations. Check out our public service announcement, “Talking About Death Won’t Kill You”:
Join us in our movement to empower more African Americans to take charge of their end-of-life:
The African American Leadership Council represents diverse groups of executives, community leaders, faith leaders and experts in the fields of medicine, estate planning and more.
They:
Click here to see our leadership council in action.
Compassion & Choices' many efforts have gained support from several leading national organizations that represent the African American community. We work with these organizations to create resolutions. These are used as a community building tool to garner support and provide examples on how C&C can help their organization join the end-of-life care movement. Resolutions are also a call-to-action as they also outline how an organization is going to take action. Resolutions create accountability while measuring impact and engagement..
| Organization | More Information |
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The African American Mayors Association adopted an end-of-life education resolution. Board member Mayor Timothy Ragland from Talladega, AL introduced the resolution and it passed unanimously. |
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In 2021, the NAACP board of directors passed an end-of-life education resolution at its 112th national convention. |
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Thanks to the leadership of delegate Laura Hall, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) adopted a resolution that Compassion & Choices helped draft and advance which affirms NBCSL’s commitment to “educate, empower and advocate around end-of-life care.” |
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NOBEL Women has partnered with Compassion & Choices on end-of-life planning. In 2019, they issued an end-of-life solution, and in 2021, they honored Compassion & Choices with its coveted corporate partnership award. |
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During their conference in 2019, this large group of progressive Black faith leaders adopted an End-of-Life covenant that included information about advance care planning and medical aid in dying. |
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In 2022, Lambda Psi Nu Sorority, Inc. passed an end-of-life education resolution at its national conference. |
We’ve also secured the endorsements of highly respected thought leaders and activists across the country who support increased efforts to empower the African American community about end-of-life planning.
| Thought Leader | Bio |
|---|---|
 Dr. Irene Jackson-Brown |
Irene V. Jackson-Brown, Ph.D., CSA, CMC, CDP, is an author, speaker, consultant, caregiver’s coach, educator and current Compassion & Choices Board member. In 2005, she opened an applied gerontology practice as the “The Art of Eldercare.” Irene holds several certifications as a senior-servicing professional – CSA (Certified Senior Advisor) from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors; CMC (Care Manager Certified) from the Association of Aging Life Care Professionals; and a CDP (Certified Dementia Practitioner) from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. She spoke about the importance of end-of-life care in this conversation. |
 Elaine Saunders |
Elaine S. Saunders is the Chair of the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center Advisory Council, based in Washington, D.C. As part of its goals, the Genevieve N. Johnson Senior Day Care Center has the ultimate objective to make a joyful, improved and quality-driven life for all of its senior citizen clients. We discussed how having a plan can protect your loved ones. |
 Dr. Benjamin Chavis |
In his editorial, Black Life Journeys Matter, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis, Jr., well-known African American civil rights leader and president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association noted that: “While there has been a lot of appropriate national attention and focus on the beginning of life’s journey, there has not been enough attention on the inevitable transition and conclusions of one’s life journey, particularly from the African American perspective.” |
 Dr. Jeff Gardere |
Dr. Jeff Gardere, often known as “Dr. Jeff” or “America’s Psychologist” was on the cover of our Summer 2020 magazine, and has testified in support of medical aid in dying across the country, participated in national webinars, and worked with us to develop a video to bring to light some of the challenges faced with end-of-life planning and to overcome them. |
 Rev. Dr. Paul Smith |
Rev. Dr. Paul Smith is a civil rights activist and former pastor of several large churches. He has a long relationship with Compassion & Choices, including serving on the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors. He was featured on the cover of our winter 2022 magazine, appeared in numerous videos, and inspired an award in his honor to recognize his significant contributions to the movement. |
The late Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD) and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD), both of whom publicly endorsed medical aid in dying through written letters.
Compassion & Choices has raised the visibility and importance of end-of-life planning through digital ads, direct mail, print ads and video development. USA Today included a Compassion & Choices ad in their special edition Black History Month feature, which was distributed to more than 5 million people via print and online.
Our “Planning Equals Peace” and “Love, Life and Legacy” campaigns are designed to reach the African American community in a culturally competent way and inspire them to get their end-of-life plans in order.
Click here to see our other ads in this series.
The “Why I give Campaign” is a social media campaign featuring members of our African American leadership council describing why they contribute to our goal of engaging racial and ethnically diverse communities in end-of-life planning.
Across the country and via video conference, we conduct presentations about end-of-life planning and care with an emphasis on reaching the African American community.
A sampling of the topics we cover is below:
End-of-Life Empowerment/Planning
Dementia End-of-Life Care
End-of-Life Care Options
Equity in End-of-Life Care
If you are interested in booking a presentation, please contact us.
Each February, in recognition of Black History Month, we lift up the voices of African Americans who have been vocal champions for improved end-of-life care. In 2022, we heard from four advocates:
In English:
Terminally ill Minnesotans are one step closer to the end-of-life care option of medical aid in dying after the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee voted to pass the End-of-Life Options Act Thursday. The proposed legislation now moves to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee for their consideration, likely next week. The vote came…
This Black History Month, Compassion & Choices is celebrating Black leaders within our organization who bring their unique and invaluable perspectives to the end-of-life options movement. Our staff and supporters make progress possible. Compassion & Choices’ Community Engagement team works within communities to advance our mission of improving care and expanding options at the end…
People from historically underserved communities don’t just rarely utilize medical aid in dying; they also are less likely to utilize hospice and other palliative care options. Since New Jersey’s “Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act” took effect three years ago, not one Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Native American state resident has…
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
