Wendy Minor stands in front of our table at an eventAfrican American and Latino communities continue to experience a lower quality of end-of-life care and support for planning. Compassion & Choices outreach efforts began in 2017 to address these issues. While we are initially focusing on these two communities, we are determined to help all diverse  communities realize an end-of-life journey according to their values and priorities. To date, we have shared nearly 25,000 end-of-life planning resources at more than 100 events.

Take Action

Making Connections

Compassion & Choices staff and supporters attend hundreds of events every year to advocate and educate the public about our end-of-life resources and tools. We use these events as an opportunity to:

  • Listen to and learn from communities.  People share their unique experiences and ideas — we build strong bridges and strengthen relationships that last long after the event is over. 
  • Educate people. We educate and inform on a range of topics, including religion, caregiving, politics and the media. 
  • Engage with influential voices. We work with such groups as Los Angeles Times en Español,  the National Urban League, NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), NAATPN (National African American Tobacco Prevention Network), National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) State of Black Health, Healthy Churches 2020 Conference, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, NOBEL (National Organization of Black Elected Officials), NNPA (National Newspaper Publishers Association) and more.
  • Disseminate important end-of-life resources. These include the widely popular bilingual End-of-Life Decisions Guide & Toolkit in Spanish and English and state-specific advance directives and the COVID-19 Toolkit — all available on our Plan Your Care Resource Center. 

Building Partnerships

Compassion & Choices leadership councils represent diverse groups of executives, community leaders, faith leaders and experts in the fields of medicine, estate planning and more. They meet regularly and work tirelessly to advance the mission of expanding options and improving care at the end of life in their communities. 

Our leadership councils: 

  • Meet with members of Congress to advance C&C legislative efforts 
  • Hold webinars and events for underserved communities
  • Secure endorsements from diverse organizations
  • Extend their voice to the movement through various media outlets.

Meet the African American Leadership Council

Meet the Latino Leadership Council

In time and with the right resources, we will create opportunities to elevate voices from all racial and ethnically diverse populations. If you can, give to support Compassion & Choices and the movement for patient-driven end-of-life options with a tax-deductible gift. 

Community Collaboration

C&C’s many efforts have gained support from several leading national organizations through endorsements and resolutions. Here are just a few:

We’ve also secured the endorsements of thought leaders and activists across the country who recognize the importance of end-of-life planning and a full range of end-of-life options. For example: 

  • Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis, Jr. is a well-known African American civil rights leader and president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Read the editorial, Black Life Journeys Matter, by Dr. Chavis. 
  • Dr. Jeff Gardere, often known as “Dr. Jeff” or America’s psychologist has testified in support of medical aid in dying in Maryland and New York, participated in national webinars, and worked with C&C to develop a video to bring to light some of the challenges faced with end-of-life planning and to overcome them.  

The late Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD) and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD), both of whom publicly endorsed medical aid in dying through written letters.

Resources

In English:

In Spanish: