Statement on Social Justice and Public Health from The Center for Health and Wellbeing at UVM

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion as stated in the mission of Health and Wellbeing Services as well as UVM’s Common Ground statement informs our stance on social justice as a public health issue.

The University of Vermont’s common ground statement on justice contends, “As a just community, we unite against all forms of injustice, including, but not limited to, racism. We reject bigotry, oppression, degradation, and harassment, and we challenge injustice toward any member of our community.”

As health and wellbeing professionals, we believe that the intersections of mental and physical health are inseparable and shape your overall wellbeing.  Individual wellness is the framework for community health as we are all impacted by the health of our community members.  Here at the University of Vermont we strive to create an inclusive diverse community, but we understand as staff of CAPS, Student Health and Living Well that valuing difference is not enough to manifest justice and thereby provide for the wellbeing of our community of students.  We know that your experiences on this campus are significantly impacted by bias, privilege, marginalization, invisibility and a culture of white supremacy that results in systemic oppression.  The outcome of these realities impact health and wellbeing. From microagressions to national tragedies, your sense of safety is key to our mission of providing for the health and wellbeing our community. 

Social justice is a public health issue because the wellbeing of our community as a whole ultimately impacts all of us on individual levels.  Health care is a human right. So long as marginalized communities experience oppression we will not be able to guarantee health and wellbeing for everyone. As Martin Luther King wrote. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Racism, transphobia, homophobia, antisemitism, islamaphobia, sexism, and all forms of bias impact health and wellbeing.  Sexual and reproductive health are key aspects of the intersection of justice and healthcare.

We are committed to creating a community of care and learning that will not leave anyone behind. We believe it’s important to hold true to the University of Vermont’s value of inclusion and diversity. 

We are committed to healing our community through the pursuit of social justice and dismantling systems of oppression that stand in the way of actualizing basic human rights while pursuing health and wellbeing as a college student.  Social justice is a pathway to wellbeing and is key to our mission of supporting your success at the University of Vermont.