The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and New America Indianapolis will assemble health care leaders at 1:30 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2021. This Virtual Town Hall will discuss the extraordinary impact the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has had on our community. As you know, African Americans have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
It's been more than a year since the U.S. experienced its first coronavirus case. While we've moved beyond stay-at-home orders, life hasn't returned to "normal" in our state. COVID-19 put health disparities that have long existed at the forefront of our collective minds. In addition to those health disparities, the coronavirus laid bare the socioeconomic inequities that exist today. While many workers could easily transition to working remotely from home, we soon realized just how essential workers are and that Black people work in many of these all-important-but-easily-forgotten jobs.
Our education system also experienced a disruption for which it was ill-equipped. The socioeconomic gap also played a significant role in education as many students didn't possess the necessary tools to learn from home. Besides, those essential-worker parents were unable to provide needed assistance during the school day. We also discovered having the correct tools didn't necessarily mean e-learning was a smooth process as parents — and the internet — were pulled to the limit trying to juggle remote work and school.
Not only will this discussion provide the most up-to-date information available, but it will also dispel myths about the vaccines and provide factual information on current vaccines, the vaccine schedule, and where you can receive a vaccine.
Oseye Boyd, Editor, Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, and Molly Martin, Director of New America Indianapolis, will co-moderate this robust conversation.
Invited Guests are:
- Paul Babcock, CEO, Health & Hospital Corp. of Marion County
- Dr. Virginia Caine, M.D., Director of Marion County Public Health Department
- Carl Ellison, IMHC President/CEO Indiana Minority Health Coalition
- Dr. Curtis Wright, President/CEO, Eskenazi Medical Group
- Dr. Eric A. Yancy, M.D. Pediatrician, Riley Children's Health
Thanks to the AARP INDIANA for making this Town Hall possible.
"Throughout our 125-year history, it has been the Recorder's mission to be the eyes, ears, and mouth for African Americans in Indianapolis. During this unprecedented time, we are committed to making sure our residents are armed with the most reliable, up-to-date information," stated Recorder President Robert Shegog.
Register for this event at https://indianapolisrecorder.com/covid-19-town-hall/
