Notice2021-18153
Veteran Listening Sessions on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
Primary source
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Published
August 24, 2021
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will conduct 55 virtual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) listening sessions for Veterans August-September 2021 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47371-47372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18153]
[[Page 47371]]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veteran Listening Sessions on Advancing Racial Equity and Support
for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Announcement for public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will conduct 55
virtual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) listening sessions for
Veterans August-September 2021 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support
for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.
DATES: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will execute 48 site-
specific virtual listening sessions. Below are the dates and locations,
which may be adjusted due to ongoing developments with COVID-19:
<bullet> August 16-17, 2021--San Francisco VA Health Care System (San
Francisco, CA)
<bullet> August 19, 2021--VA Northern California Health Care System
(Sacramento, CA)
<bullet> August 23-24, 2021--Kansas City VA Medical Center (Kansas
City, MO)
<bullet> August 26, 2021--Jack C. Montgomery Medical Center (Tulsa, OK)
<bullet> September 13-14, 2021--Charlie Norwood Medical Center
(Augusta, GA)
<bullet> September 15-16, 2021--Robley Rex VA Medical Center
(Louisville, KY)
<bullet> September 20-21, 2021--Hampton VA Medical Center (Hampton, VA)
<bullet> September 22-23, 2021--Baltimore VA Medical Center (Baltimore,
MD)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Andringa, Office of
Healthcare Transformation (Mail code 10T), 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20420, 727-409-1293. (This is not a toll-free telephone
number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 20, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued E.O. 13985 on
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through
the Federal Government.
Consultation With Interested Parties
Executive Order 13985 requires VA to consult with members of
communities who have been historically underrepresented in the Federal
Government and underserved by, or subject to discrimination in, Federal
policies and programs.
The term ``underserved communities'' refers to populations sharing
a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that
have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in
aspects of economic, social, and civic life, such as Black, Latino, and
Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities;
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer and related
identities (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who
live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by
persistent poverty or inequality.
VHA will execute listening sessions to gather feedback on:
<bullet> Veterans' experiences and perceptions related to
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) at VA healthcare facilities.
<bullet> Ways Veterans feel they can be included.
<bullet> Barriers to effective healthcare for diverse Veteran
populations.
<bullet> Unmet needs of diverse Veteran populations.
Comments received in response to this notice will be evaluated and,
as appropriate, incorporated into VA's efforts to improve support to
underserved communities.
Additional Registration Information
Individual registration: VA encourages individual registrations for
those not affiliated with or representing a group, association or
organization.
Group registration: Identification of the name of the group,
association or organization should be indicated in your registration
request. Due to virtual platform meeting limitations of WebEx and the
statutory mandate that VA consult with certain entities, VA may select
certain entities to speak or may limit the size of a group's
registration to allow receipt of testimonies and/or technical remarks
from a broad, diverse group of stakeholders. Oral comments, testimonies
and/or technical remarks may be limited from a group, association or
organization to no more than two (2) individuals representing the same
group, association or organization. Efforts will be made to accommodate
all attendees who wish to participate. However, VA will give priority
to Veterans, family members, caregivers, survivors of underserved
communities or their representatives who register before September 15,
2021, at 4 p.m. Eastern, and wish to provide oral comments, testimonies
and/or technical remarks. The length of time allotted for all
participants to provide oral comments, testimonies and/or technical
remarks during the meeting will be no more than 60 minutes total and is
subject to the number of participants selected to speak, to ensure time
is allotted. There will be no opportunity for audio-visual
presentations during the meeting.
Audio (For listening purposes only): Limited to the first 200
participants, on a first-come, first-served basis. Advanced
registration is not required. Audio attendees will not be allowed to
offer oral comments, testimonies and/or technical remarks as the line
will be muted.
Note: Should it be necessary to cancel the meeting due to technical
issues or other emergencies, VA will take available measures to notify
registered participants.
Listening Session Agenda
<bullet> Welcome and Introduce Team--2 min
<bullet> Opening Remarks--VHA Senior Leader(s)--5 mins
<bullet> Open comment period--DE&I Facilitator(s)--48 mins
<bullet> Closing Remarks--VHA Senior Leader(s)--5 mins
Site-specific virtual listening sessions. Each location will
execute six (6) virtual sessions on the dates scheduled above. Each
session will be approximately 60 minutes. All sessions will be held
virtually as a WebEx Event. The links to register are available at
<a href="http://www.va.gov/ormdi">www.va.gov/ormdi</a>. Advanced registration for individuals and groups is
strongly encouraged. Individuals or groups who seek to speak must
register by 72 hours before the start of each session. Speakers must
virtually check-in one hour prior to the listening session to test
WebEx access and resolve any technical issues. All other comments may
be submitted in writing during the listening session. Target audiences
are listed below and include Veterans, family members, caregivers,
survivors, community leaders and partners, and other representatives
who provide support to underserved communities:
<bullet> Session 1: Racial/ethnic minorities
<bullet> Session 2: LGBTQ+
<bullet> Session 3: Veterans with disabilities
<bullet> Session 4: Women Veterans
<bullet> Session 5: Religious minority Veterans and Veterans otherwise
adversely affected by persistent inequality
<bullet> Session 6: Community partners
Virtual listening sessions for participants from all eight
locations. General virtual listening sessions will be held on September
28 & 30, 2021, will be approximately 60 minutes each, and will target
participants from the eight
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locations listed above who were unable to attend the site-specific
virtual sessions. The links to register are available at <a href="http://www.va.gov/ormdi">www.va.gov/ormdi</a>.
Signing Authority: Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
approved this document on August 17, 2021, and authorized the
undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the
Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-18153 Filed 8-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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