Racial Equity Impact Note

Racism has always been a public health crisis and requires structural and preventative solutions. Recognizing the political and policy determinants of health, our strategies must embed racial and health equity (RHE) into policy making and governance, itself. Join us for a discussion about why and how a racial equity impact note could be established in Minnesota. In this session, Vayong Moua from BCBSMN and a panel of community leaders and policy makers will discuss:

• Centering racial and health equity principles, praxis, and policies
• Policy proposals to advance Racial Equity Impact Note (REIN)
• Explore role of public health and community advocacy for REIN
• Strategies and support needs for advancing REIN
• Hear your ideas on how RHE can be integrated into organizing and policy change

Panel Bio:

Vayong Moua (pronounced “Va Zong”), MPA 

He/Him

Director of Racial and Health Equity Advocacy

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Vayong Moua leads advocacy efforts to advance racial and health equity (RHE) in policies and structural determinants of health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBSMN) and beyond. His philosophy and action focus on integrating RHE into governance across sectors, issues, and cultural communities. Moua applies cross-cultural power and equity analysis into advocacy approaches, community engagement, and upstream solutions. He has worked on myriad projects relating to Covid-19 equity, commercial tobacco control, healthy food systems, community design, and cultural leadership issues. Moua championed Blue Cross Blue Shield’s’ Health in All Policies investment and co-founded the Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition that led the passage of Minnesota’s state Complete Streets law. Moua chaired (2015-2019) the legislated Cultural and Ethnic Communities Leadership Council (CECLC) that catalyzed the Department of Human Service’s agency wide policy on equity. Currently, he is the first Chair of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s Health Equity and Public Policy work group. At BCBSMN, Moua leads Racism as Public Health Crisis and racial equity in policy-making efforts.

Moua received his BA with a triple major in Philosophy, Sociology/Anthropology, and Asian Studies from St. Olaf College. He received his MPA from the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Moua was a Public Policy/International Affairs Fellow, Humphrey Policy Fellow, and Bush Fellow. Outside of work, you’ll find him outdoors disc golfing, fishing, onewheeling, and snowboarding with loved ones. He celebrates his Hmong refugee identity and along with Pha Chia, enjoys raising Ishii (8) and Ishua (4).

Nicole Donoso

She/Ella

Policy Organizer

Voices for Racial Justice

Nicole (She/ella) wakes up every day with the intention to build a society where human dignity and social justice become customary. She was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2019 with a degree in Global Studies with a concentration on Human Rights and Justice in Latin America. Her experience working with Latin American immigrant communities at James H. Binger Center for New Americans shaped her human rights interests to focus on immigrants’ rights. In 2018, she was awarded the Inna K. Meiman Human Rights Award provided by the Human Rights Program at UMN to recognize her human rights work. She is a community organizer for the Colombian community in Minnesota and a documentary producer in her free time. Her latest film: Día a Día, 2020: A Day at a Time. (Published in Twin Cities PBS: TPT): A film where Colombian immigrants in Minnesota reflect on how the struggles and joys of 2020 transformed how we celebrate culture, aid community, and attempt to thrive in overlapping crises. Her mother is her only hero, and cookie-dough ice cream is her greatest weakness. She is a feminist and loves playing soccer with friends.

Rep. Liz Reyer (DFL) District: 52A

Committee Assignments:

Biographical Information:

• Home: Eagan
• Occupation: Researcher/leadership coach
• Education: B.A., Chinese, University of Minnesota; M.A., political science, Ohio State University
• Elected: 2020
• Term: 2nd
• Family: Married, spouse Jim, 4 children