City of Phoenix Human Relations Commissioner Janey Pearl and Zipatley Mendoza, from the Arizona Department of Health Services/Health Disparities office, will discuss the existence of racial and ethnic disparities in health care at the free Faces of Diversity Brown Bag series noon to 1 p.m. Friday, June 27, at the Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.

Pearl and Mendoza will present a recent health report that shows a failure of the health care system to provide equal, high quality health care to all individuals, regardless of ethnicity, race and other factors. As the U.S. becomes increasingly diverse, the next generation of health care providers will need to expand their knowledge of the different racial and ethnic populations and health care inequities facing the U.S. and develop new skills to take care of all health care consumers effectively.

Consumers and providers will need to learn the underlying causes of health disparities. These causes include disparities in health care access, resources, treatment, outcomes and health status for racial and ethnic minority patients; the patient-physician relationship; the health care delivery system; language problems; understanding of cultural and folk illnesses; patient beliefs; provider biases; and stereotyping.

The free series, a diversity education and awareness project of the city’s “We’re All On The Same Team” program, is sponsored by the Phoenix Human Relations Commission and the city’s Equal Opportunity Department. It features dynamic people telling their stories about diversity.

Bring your lunch and enjoy a cultural experience. No reservation needed. For more information, call 602-261-8242 or 602-534-1557/TTY or visit phoenix.gov/eod/bbag.html.