Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee seeks to integrate the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging throughout APTA North Carolina's work and activities to optimize the experience of members and leaders, professional partners, and the communities we serve.

Committee Charge:

  1. Increase diversity in membership and leadership.
  2. Increase awareness of physical therapy as a profession for North Carolina citizens in economic and educationally disadvantaged parts of our state and those of minority backgrounds.
  3. Increase messaging to citizens in economic and educationally disadvantaged parts of our state about physical therapy as a choice for care.


Community Impact Challenge:

In an effort to support community engagement and service in underserved communities, APTA North Carolina’s DEI Committee launched the Community Impact Challenge (CIC) which will award 2 programs (all DPT and PTA programs in North Carolina are eligible) monetary awards up to $1,500 each to assist with the implementation of a project/activity that addresses a community need.


The application for 2026 is now open.  Applications are due by November 14, 2025.   Grants will be awarded by January 2026.  If selected for funding, applicants must commit to implementing the proposed project by September 2026 and present an overview of the project at the APTA North Carolina Annual Conference in October 2026.


CIC funding may be used for direct costs or other reasonably supported expenses related to the costs.  The funds cannot be used for overhead or indirect costs.  A successful proposal will thoroughly address each anticipated cost/expenditure with a clear justification and include an itemized budget to support projected expenditures


2025 CIC Winners:

  • Central Carolina Community College PTA Program (submitted by Brittany Burns, SPTA); CampMED - a week-long health sciences camp for rising 10th graders to promote the interest and value of health science professions

 

  • Elon University (submitted by Sixela Caballero, SPT); Health Outreach Program of Elon (HOPE) - partnership with the CityGate Dream Center to develop a food pantry providing culturally appropriate food options for the community


2023 Community Impact Challenge Winners

2024 Community Impact Challenge Winners


  • CIC Application Form

    We encourage collaboration. The application form will ask for collaborations (e.g., PT/PTA collaborations, community partners, etc.)

    Application Form

  • CIC Criteria

    Download criteria here.

    CIC Criteria

  • CIC Scoring Rubric

    Download the scoring rubric here.

    CIC Scoring Rubric

  • CIC FAQs

    Download answers to frequently asked questions here.

    CIC FAQs

  • Best Practices for Responsible Community Engagement

    Please take best practices into consideration. Downloadable here.

    Best Practices

PTA Membership and Engagement

In collaboration with APTA North Carolina's PTA Director, Tiffany Needham, the APTA North Carolina Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee developed "The APTA & You: Value in PTA Membership & Engagement." This presentation is targeted to PTA students with a goal of increasing their knowledge about the various opportunities that exist with APTA membership and ways that APTA North Carolina can support them along their professional journey. While the target audience is PTA students, all members of the physical therapy profession may benefit from viewing this presentation. 


APTA and You: PTA Membership and Engagement Resources:

UNC DPT's APTA PT Moves Me Ambassadors presented at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill, NC for their WOW! World of Work Career Exploration Camp on July 9, 2024


PT Moves Me Ambassador Program

Would you like to talk with students in elementary school, middle school, high school, or college about our profession? Consider becoming a PT Moves Me Ambassador and help recruit future PTs and PTAs!

Become an Ambassador

Committee Membership

Interested in joining the APTA North Carolina DEI Committee? Create an account on APTA Engage. The application for Committee Member will open in the final quarter of the calendar year.

  • Deidra Charity (Chair of DEI Committee) & Lynnz Brewer (DEI Committee Member)

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  • DEI Committee info table at Annual Conference

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  • Jerri Shepard, Deidra Charity, & Judy Foxworth (DEI Committee Members)

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  • Diversity Dialogues 2.0 at APTA NC Annual Conference

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Resources

Affinity Groups and Professional Organizations

Access links to organizations that represent minority communities, advocate for disability rights, and support underserved populations

Download PDF

Scholarship and Financial Resources

A collection of scholarship and financial resources for prospective students, current students, and licensees, aligned with the mission of APTA North Carolina’s DEI Committee.

Download PDF

Resources for Education and Practice

Discover selected resources to help you create accessible environments, understand the impact of social determinants of health, and navigate gender, racial, and ethnic identities more effectively.

Download PDF

APTA DEI Educational Resources

Curated for you, explore articles, podcasts, videos, lectures, and other DEI-related content from the American Physical Therapy Association.

Download PDF

Contact Us

Have a question? Contact the DEI Chair, Deidra Charity, PT, DPT. deidra.charity@med.unc.edu