Statement from our President and CEO, Ann Palmer

This is a painful time for our country. It is heart wrenching to watch as our cities and communities try to effect meaningful change and address difficult realities that are testing our nation. In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic instability have brought so much uncertainty to our world. The very sobering truth is that for decades before this crisis, our Black communities have been fighting for equality and social justice; fighting to overcome our nation’s tragic history of violence and racism that continues to target the Black community. This fight continues today with anguish and unrest.

We need real and meaningful change. As the staff leader of the Arthritis Foundation —a champion for the 1 in 4 Americans living with arthritis — I am committed to find ways as an employer and as a community to drive change and promote healing.

Arthritis does not discriminate. It doesn’t care about race, creed, income level or age. Yet we know there are deep-rooted inequities that affect health outcomes for Black Americans. We must work harder to overcome inequities in delivery of care.

At the Arthritis Foundation, we believe that real change happens when we work together — when we identify a problem, raise up the voices of those most impacted and put an action plan into place. This is how we do our work of boldly pursuing a cure for America’s #1 cause of disability and improving the lives of those living with arthritis. 

I’m honored to be leading an organization that for 70 years has focused on bringing people together to drive improvement. Today, we stand alongside our Black volunteers, supporters, partners, staff members and community members. We stand against racial injustice. We acknowledge there is much work to be done, and we commit to reflecting on the role we can and should play in contributing to a better tomorrow.