Disparities, Workers, and Community Responses to COVID 19: A Public Forum (Video)

Posted in Events Our Staff Race and Economic Empowerment Project Race and Economic Empowerment Project  |  Tagged Christopher King, James Benton, Joseph McCartin, Race and Economic Empowerment Project, REEP, Samantha Davis, UNITE HERE, Zillah Wesley

On April 29, 2020, KI hosted a virtual discussion on the role of inequality in the COVID 19 pandemic that featured local perspectives on workers and community responses.

Longstanding inequalities – in employment, health care, and housing, among other factors – are shaping the disparate impacts facing African American communities in the ongoing pandemic. As we face rising numbers of infections and deaths in the DC region, this expert panel will discuss the role of inequalities in COVID 19; offer first-person perspectives about the effects of this crisis on their daily lives; and describe a response rooted in historical mutual aid traditions that holds promise for current and future African American community activism.

An introduction was offered by KI’s executive director, Joseph McCartin. The discussion was moderated by the director of KI’s Race and Economic Empowerment Project, James Benton.

Distinguished Panelists:
Christopher King, PhD, MHSc, FACHE
Chair, Department of Health Systems Administration, Georgetown University
Samantha Davis
Founder and Executive Director, Black Swan Academy, Washington, DC
Zillah Wesley
Co-Chair, DMV Mobilizing Team, Poor People’s Campaign
Marcus Young
Shop Steward, Unite Here 23

Watch the recorded discussion on Facebook and be sure to sign up for our list serve to learn of future discussions. You can also access the transcript of the discussion here.