Dear Coaching Colleagues,

Like many of you, we have watched the events of the past few weeks unfold with deep grief. Racial tensions in America have devastated BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities throughout our nation’s history, and the profound health disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic have shed light on a long-overdue need to more fully address issues of social justice within the health care system.

Our Acknowledgement

From the start, the aim of the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) has been to lead the advancement of health and wellness coaching by establishing professional standards and collaborative partnerships. As an organization, we acknowledge that we have blind spots that have influenced the ways we have tried to live out our values around creating a community that is equitable, inclusive, and diverse.

The NBHWC acknowledges that our health care system often treats people with marginalized identities differently than others. We acknowledge that racism, not race, is a root cause of disease. We acknowledge that racism often intersects with other forms of systemic oppression and that those who live with multiple marginalized identities are often at highest risk for chronic illness. As health & wellness coaches, we know that our profession offers us a powerful tool to support behavior change in individuals who are navigating chronic disease and other health challenges. We recognize that many of us have much to learn about health disparities and issues of social justice.

Our Commitment

The NBHWC is committed to deepening our learning across the organization and to supporting the continued development of our community. We encourage all health coaches in our community to seek out resources to learn more about health disparities, racism, and other issues of social justice. A partial list of resources can be found by clicking here.

The NBHWC is committed to listening to BIPOC communities and to seeking guidance from those with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion. To that end, we commit to creating a permanent Health & Wellness Coaching Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee charged with guiding the NBHWC to review our processes and develop solutions to counteract potential BIPOC inequity within our organization, including a fresh look at our examination development, program approval, and leadership practices. We look forward to sharing additional information as this committee progresses.

The work of addressing racism and other forms of systemic oppression is lifelong. We hope that the community, including BIPOC individuals, will help us with this critically important charge. While we will make missteps along the way, we are committed to learning from them and continuing to move forward.

The NBHWC fully supports social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We stand with our BIPOC communities, and we invite you to join us!

Respectfully,
The NBHWC Board of Directors & NBHWC Staff

Dear Coaching Colleagues and Friends,

Like many of you, we have watched in dismay in recent months at the rise in anti-Asian discrimination and violence. The Atlanta shootings three weeks echo a striking rise in anti-Asian hate crimes over the past year, and are a painful reminder of the intersection of racism and gender-based violence. Every day, there are countless incidents of racism that do not make the nightly news.

We acknowledge that racism and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is far from new, though it is often overlooked both in modern discourse and our history books. We stand in solidarity with our AAPI community, and explicitly condemn anti-Asian violence and racism of every kind. Everything from verbal abuse to violence are all forms of bigotry that must not be normalized or tolerated. Each of our personal experiences are as unique as the many layers of our identity, so even seemingly casual microaggressions can have a tremendous and detrimental impact.

We ask that our non-Asian colleagues stand against anti-Asian hate as well. Check on your Asian friends to offer support and hold space for them in whatever way is needed. Ask your local governments, institutions, and workplaces what they are doing to support the AAPI community and to create spaces of safety. If you witness a racist incident in your workplace or community, make it clear that anti-Asian racism will not be tolerated.

As health coaches, we are committed to a broad, inclusive view of health, and we recognize that racism harms the health of both individuals and communities. Addressing racism of every kind is an essential part of our work. Will you join us in support of our Asian American and Pacific Islander friends, family, and peers?

Sincerely,
The NBHWC DEI Committee