Daily Archives: June 27, 2021

June 24, 2021 8:46 PM

Posted: June 24, 2021 8:46 PM

Updated: June 27, 2021 3:27 AM

Earlier this week, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced that 70% of the citys adults had received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine reaching President Bidens goal for the nation ahead of schedule.

Yet that doesnt tell the whole story. Only one-quarter of those vaccinations have gone to Black residents even though they make up more than 40% of the citys population.

Throughout the pandemic, people of color have been devastated by Covid-19 in the US dying at a much greater rate than white Americans. Now, as deaths have fallen with increased vaccinations, those dying are younger and more disproportionately Black.

Since April 2020, Dr. Ala Stanford has been working to change that. Her group, the Black Doctors Covid-19 Consortium, has brought testing and vaccines to more than 75,000 residents of Philadelphias minority neighborhoods.

We are intentional about focusing on communities that have the low vaccination rates and the highest positivity rates, said Stanford, whose organization has been praised as a model to reduce health care inequality by the CDC. Those who are most vulnerable they need to have the support.

Its an unlikely path for Stanford, a pediatric surgeon, but shes always defied expectations. Born to teen parents in north Philadelphia, her family often struggled to make ends meet. But that didnt keep Stanford from dreaming big.

I knew I wanted to be a doctor from the time I was about 8 years old and I never believed I couldnt do it, she said. That grit that comes from being a poor kid raised in Philadelphia is what has given me the tenacity to press on, no matter what.

She became a surgeon and built a successful private practice. But in March 2020, her work slowed dramatically when the country shut down, so she hunkered down at home with her husband and three young sons.

Early that April, she was disturbed to hear about the high fatalities of Black residents in Philadelphia. Then a Drexel University researcher reported that people in affluent white areas of the city were being tested six times more frequently than those in poor minority areas.

Stanford knew that people of color were more vulnerable to Covid-19 for many reasons, including that they were likely to be essential workers. Knowing they werent getting tested deeply upset her.

This was your working-class community. They were keeping the city and the country running, she said. But wherever Black people were, one thing that was tough to come by was testing.

So, she gathered up PPE from her office, got testing kits, rented a van and headed out to bring free testing to areas where positivity rates were the highest.

The first day we did a dozen tests. The second time we went out, we did about 150 tests. And the third time there were 500 people lined up before we started, she said.

Throughout 2020, they provided free testing in the parking lots of local churches, mosques, community centers and SEPTA stations, eventually offering antibody testing and flu shots as well as Covid testing.

In January, Stanford and her team began offering Covid vaccinations and for the first few months, vaccinated an average of 1,000 people a day. The group also ran a 24-hour Vax-A-Thon at which they inoculated more than 4,000 people.

The volunteer effort that Stanford initially funded from her own pocket is now a large operation with 70 employees and more than 200 volunteers.

In recent weeks, as the pace of vaccinations has slowed, the group found new ways to reach those in need. Their events now often include music, free refreshments, t-shirt giveaways and other incentives. More than 1,000 people have signed up for their home vaccination program and theyve targeted teenagers with special events as well as high school visits to answer questions about the vaccine.

The group is currently based at Deliverance Evangelistic Church in North Philadelphia. In the fall, they plan to open a health equity center there until they ultimately open their own permanent facility.

Stanfords efforts have brought her such acclaim that shes now under consideration to be the citys next health commissioner.

Laushae Hightower, 78, has become one of the groups unofficial ambassadors regularly bringing carloads of family and friends from his neighborhood.

Anybody that wants to come, Ill bring em, he said. My little bit of bringing them up here pales to what shes doing.

For Stanford, that support means that her efforts to earn the trust of the community have paid off.

Just seeing folks come out, day in and day out their presence says everything, Stanford said. This wasnt my job, but I could not allow one additional life to be lost when I knew that I could do something about it.

CNNs Kathleen Toner spoke with Stanford about her work. Below is an edited version of their conversation.

CNN: Whats the atmosphere like when you vaccinate people?

Dr. Ala Stanford: Honestly, the atmosphere is joy. Its new beginnings. Its exhaling for a lot of people because theyve finally done it. Its also emotional a lot of tears for folks because it takes them back to a person that they lost. We had a woman whose mother had died the night before from Covid. When she came up she was still sobbing and we just built a circle around her, held hands around her and let her cry.

CNN: How have you dealt with peoples fear or hesitation about getting vaccinated?

Stanford: We tried to prepare for it. In the fall, we conducted a survey that gave us some insight into what would make people more comfortable taking the vaccine when it became available. Then in December, I got vaccinated. Id had Covid, so Id thought about not getting vaccinated because I knew I had antibodies, but I took on that responsibility because people were following my lead. Then, when we started vaccinating, we had one day where we ran out of vaccine, so I said to the city, This hesitancy in the Black community, we are not seeing it. They were lined up.

But there are people who have concerns understandably and its not my job to persuade. Its my job to educate and allow you to make an informed decision about your health. So, I listen to what the reason is why theyre not getting vaccinated sometimes its lack of education, sometimes its fear, sometimes they cant even tell you why. Sometimes the questions they have, there are no answers for. So, I just state the facts and Im honest with them. But youre more likely statistically to die if youre African American and you contract coronavirus. That is a fact. Regardless of how much money you make or not, regardless of comorbid conditions or not. I tell them, You have to weigh the risks and benefits and Im available to listen and answer. Its not a one-time conversation for some people. Some people need to come back and watch a couple of people get it. And then theyre like, OK, Doc. Im ready.

CNN: How did the idea for your new center come about?

Stanford: The pandemic has made it glaringly obvious how we are missing the mark with health equity in the United States, so were opening a multi-disciplinary clinic on October 1st where we can do family practice, pediatrics, phlebotomy and flu shots. Who knows we may need to do booster shoots for coronavirus.

But this is answering the need of the community. People just started showing up to say, Hey Doc, could you look at my labs? or Ive got this lump on my neck. Is this normal? So thats whats next for us. Our mission has always been about getting Black and brown communities the access and care they deserve.

Want to get involved? Check out the Black Doctors Covid-19 Consortium website and see how to help.

To donate to the Black Doctors Covid-19 Consortium via GoFundMe, click here

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This CNN Hero is fighting to save lives in Philadelphia's communities of color through Covid-19 vaccination and testing - Channel3000.com -...

LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Launching June 25th, global superstar, actress, social activist and beauty maven Becky G introduces her Latinx-inspired brand, Treslce Beauty. Inspired by Latinx culture and made for all, the brand is dedicated to paying homage and uplifting Latinx creators, while honoring the unique beauty within each and every Treslce Beauty consumer.

Becky G partnered with beauty brand incubator, Madeby Collective, to create an innovative, vivid world of color in a conscious beauty line that will highlight communities and always give back in an intentional way, supporting Latinx artists and artisans across the U.S. and Latin America.

As a second-generation Mexican-American, Becky G has always been devoted to shining a light on her humble beginnings, family values and Latinx identity. As an authority in beauty, serving as the youngest CoverGirl to date, she is determined to present positive change, and acknowledge Latinx creators, consumers and tastemakers who are the driving force in today's beauty economy. The first collection is inspired by Becky G's Mexican heritage and future collections will seek to celebrate all Latinx cultures.

"Growing up, I never really saw people who looked like me represented, especially when it came to ads for beauty brands. My inspiration for Treslce came from wanting to put more diverse faces at the forefront of beauty. Being Mexican-American, my Mexican heritage was also very much an inspiration. I wanted to highlight it in a very special way, along with all the other beautiful Latinx cultures within our community."

The brand has developed high-performance, conscious, vegan-friendly formulations that deliver high-impact artistry, with the mission to encourage beauty aficionados to tap into their inner artist. Additionally, the line is cruelty-free, and packaging as well as formulas, are infused with Latinx sourced ingredients and art. A key ingredient is blue agave sourced from Jalisco, Mexico. The soothing and nurturing Mexican blue agave delivers a unique softness improving the skin texture, and is derived in a sustainable way from the nectar of the plant.

Treslce Beauty will be launching with six products including: "I Am" Shadow Palette, "Like An Artista" 8pc Brush Set, "Ilusion" Premium Lashes (Sueo 3D, Fantasy 5D, Deseo 6D), "Intenso" Liners (15 shades), "Mi Tesoro" Lash Case, and "Super Fcil 2-in-1 Lash Applicator". Prices range $8-$35.00.

Media Contact: Danielle Alvarez [emailprotected]

SOURCE Madeby Collective

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Becky G Launches Treslce Beauty, A Brand Rooted In Celebrating The Latinx Community - PRNewswire

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is honored to welcome celebrated artist Phung Huynh to the department as Creative Strategist for the Office of Immigrant Affairs as part of the Creative Strategist Program administered by the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture.

Phung Huynh is a Los Angeles-based artist and educator whose art practice focuses on drawing, painting, and public art. Her work explores cultural perception and representation. Known for exploring the complexities of Southeast Asian refugee communities through drawings that include the iconic pink donut box, Huynh will apply her artistic practice and her own experience as a refugee and immigrant to her work with OIA staff on strategies to build trust and increase participation in LA County support services.

The talents of immigrant artists have helped to make Los Angeles County the nations creative capital, said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair, Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District. Phung Huynhs work speaks to the immigrant story and makes a perfect match to help the Office of Immigrant Affairs celebrate the contributions of immigrants that make L.A. County a vibrant and welcoming place for all.

Its an honor to welcome Phung Huynh and her impressive artistry and ideas into our Office of Immigrant Affairs, said Rafael Carbajal, Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. We extend our gratitude to the Department of Arts and Culture for selecting OIA as a place where art can help us better engage and serve those who have made Los Angeles their home.

Artists have the power to inspire and advance belonging and identity in communities. The Creative Strategist Program brings that power and creative problem solving into the service sector, said Kristin Sakoda, Director of the Department of Arts and Culture. We believe that this cross-sector partnership with the Office of Immigrant Affairs and the amazing, community-minded Phung Huynh will find innovative ways to build more access to arts and cultural resources for immigrants in Los Angeles County.

The role of artist is deeply connected to the role of cultural builder who serves the community, said Huynh. Intentional engagement and making art through a social justice lens are central to my practice, as well as my commitment to immigrant communities, womens issues, and BIPOC solidarity. As an artist, educator, mother, and activist, I hope that when people engage with my work, they are positively impacted and rethink their relationships with their own communities and what sort of impact they can make.

The Creative Strategist program is a recommendation of theL.A. County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative, which is implemented by the Department of Arts and Culture. The program places artists and creative professionals in residence at a County agency, applying artistic practices towards the development of innovative solutions to complex social challenges.

In addition to her new assignment with OIA, Huynh has been commissioned with other County public art projects and recently earned a city of Los Angeles (COLA) Individual Artist Fellowship through LA Citys Department of Cultural Affairs. As one of 14 COLA fellows, Huynhs works are currently being featured virtually at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery.

Learn more about the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs atimmigrants.lacounty.gov.

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Artist Phung Huynh Named Creative Strategist for County's Immigrant Affairs Office - SCVNEWS.com

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 600,000 in the United States and as a result has caused major economic upheaval and permanently affected the lives of millions of people. Its no surprise that Black and Hispanic Americans suffered more than any other demographic group, but the impact is much more substantial than previously considered, according to a new study.

Research published in the medical journal BMJ showed life expectancy in America dropped by two years from 2018 to 2020, the largest decline since World War II. But as white people lost 1.36 years, comparatively Black people lost 3.25 years and Hispanic Americans lost 3.88 years.

To exacerbate the problem, Black and Hispanic Americans are also seeing harder economic times due to the pandemic. Although the overall economy is recovering as coronavirus restrictions continue to ease, many in those groups who suffered job losses and housing insecurities are continuing on that same pace.

RELATED: Black People Comprise 100 percent of the Coronavirus Deaths In Richmond, Virginia

This already comes with the health disparities that already disproportionately affected communities of color before the onset of the pandemic, which simply made matters worse. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top immunologist said in May the extent those disparities have done damage.

COVID-19 has shone a bright light on our own societys failings, said Fauci, speaking at Atlantas Emory Universitys graduation ceremonies, speaking of conditions like hypertension, obesity, chronic lung disease, and diabetes. Almost all relate to the social determinants of health dating back to disadvantageous conditions that some people of color find themselves in from birth regarding the availability of an adequate diet, access to health care and the undeniable effects of racism in our society.

RELATED: Dr. Anthony Fauci: Undeniable Effects of Racism Contributed To Worsening of Pandemic Among Minorities

Kaiser Health News, citing data from McKinsey & Co. analysts, reported the two demographics will have to wait until at least 2024 to see their pre-pandemic wages and salaries come back, facing 1.6 to 2.0 times the unemployment rates of white workers. There is also an increase in poverty that typically disproportionately affects minority groups. Census data shows 11.3 percent of Americans are now living in poverty, compared with 10.7 percent in January 2020, KHN says.

Ive been homeless before, James Toussaint, 57, a New Orleans man who has never had COVID-19 and was evicted from his apartment after he lost his job at an auto parts store, told KHN. I dont want to be homeless again.

As a result, Toussaint has suffered with high blood pressure and arthritis in his back and knees. He did manage to find a new place to stay when he was put out of his old apartment, but that only happened because his former landlord found a way around the federal eviction ban. His family could not take him in.

Ive got family, but everybody has their own issues and problems, Toussaint said. Everyone is trying their best to help themselves.

In a study from the National Equity Atlas, about 14 percent of tenants have fallen behind on their rent, doubling the pre-pandemic rate. About 67 percent of them are people of color.

The health and housing disparities that have come along with the plight of people like Toussaint are pronounced and outline the inequities of the healthcare system when it comes to distribution.

RELATED: White House COVID Task Force Head Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith Says Vaccinating 12-15 Year Olds Is Essential

Its a vivid paradox, Dr. Steven Woolf, a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health at Virginia Commonwealth University and a senior author of the BMJ paper, told The Los Angeles Times. We really do a fantastic job in developing cutting-edge medications and technologies in healthcare, but a pretty lousy job of distributing them fairly. The same thing happens with diabetes, hypertension, and even maternal and child health.

We have a fundamental problem with providing healthcare and getting it out to the people who need it most, he added, noting that the drop in life expectancy in America was 8.5 times the rate of other wealthy nations. But he said it was most shocking to see the widening gaps between white people and communities of color.

This was really disturbing, said Woolf. It reflects the huge loss of life and it demonstrates the price people pay for systemic racism.

But taking a solutions-based approach to that racism can help turn the tide, Dr. Richard Besser, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation told KHN. Tackling problems like poverty, racial inequity, and housing disparity could potentially turn back the alarming trends affecting people of color.

How the pandemic will affect peoples future health depends on what we do coming out of this, said Besser. It will take an intentional effort to make up for the losses that have occurred over the past year.

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New Study Shows Life Expectancy Within Black And Hispanic Communities Has Dropped Drastically Since WWII - BET

A few months into the pandemic, scientists say theyve discovered a disturbing pattern.

The data showed that those who survived COVID-19 and those who didnt breaks down sharply along racial lines, with Black people being hit particularly hard.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black people develop COVID-19 at about the same rate as whites. But they are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized and twice as likely to die from the disease.

Why is this happening?

Some scientists have said Black people have higher rates of chronic diseases that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19.

However, a new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that may not be the whole story. Among other things, what hospital you land in could be a major factor.

The effects of what hospital you go to are by far the greatest and, frankly, could entirely explain the Black-white differences we see in survival, said Dr. David A. Asch, a lead author of the study and a professor of medicine and healthcare management as well as the director of the Center for Health Care Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania.

The researchers examined the data for more than 44,000 Medicare beneficiaries who were treated for COVID-19 at nearly 1,200 hospitals across the country.

They concluded that if Black patients were treated in the same hospitals as whites, their mortality rate could have been lower.

Asch told Healthline that their findings were true even after they accounted for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. His team did not specifically study what it was about the hospitals that made the difference.

But there are some smoking guns. If you think about it, hospitals are a lot like public schools, he said. We fund them typically with local property taxes. So the schools in, say Beverly Hills have more resources than in impoverished neighborhoods.

Those findings ring a bell with Dr. Kim Rhoads, MPH, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and the director of the Office of Community Engagement at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

Where you go determines what you get and what you get can determine your outcome, she told Healthline.

Rhoads began studying the impact of hospitals on cancer treatment in 2008. She said she started looking for answers because all the literature blamed the patient for not taking care of themselves or not eating right.

Rhoads says the problem is that hospitals serving communities of color often have numerous people using Medicaid. The rate of reimbursement to the hospital for Medicaid-related services is on average 87 cents on the dollar.

Their revenues are lower. So the types of specialists those hospitals can hire may be limited. The types of equipment they have to provide cancer care, like a radiation machine, is limited, she said.

Dr. Karen Joynt Maddox, MPH, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine and co-director at the Center for Health Economics and Policy at Washington University in St. Louis, said the disparities have roots in racism.

Hospitals that disproportionately serve Black patients struggle for a number of reasons, but they all link back to structural racism, she told Healthline.

Maddox says historical underinvestment and discrimination have effectively segregated those hospitals in communities of color.

Policies like redlining means those hospitals are often located in areas that are much poorer with lower revenues, she explained.

It can be hard to recruit and retain physicians and other healthcare professionals to work in under-resourced hospitals, she added.

Scientists at New Yorks Mount Sinai Hospital recently completed another study on COVID-19 racial disparities, focusing on a New York neighborhood.

They wanted to look beyond the discourse about how COVID-19 comorbidities were why Black Americans had higher mortality rates.

What they found was that neighborhoods that had higher socioeconomic disadvantages had more COVID-19 cases and deaths.

In addition, researchers at New York University Grossman School of Medicine looked at racial disparities in access to COVID-19 vaccines in Brooklyn.

They found a substantial number of vaccination access deserts. They said the early vaccine rollout focused on white neighborhoods that were middle and upper class.

Rhoads calls this the car and computer syndrome.

She said people in lower-income communities might not have a car to get to the vaccine sites and no way to go online to make an appointment.

Her UCSF team took vaccines to those communities and established pop-up sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. They registered people on the spot and did a phone follow-up for people who needed a second shot.

I think the innovation that should come out of this pandemic is a bigger investment in the people in the community. That means engaging the community in the process of taking care of public health, Rhoads said.

Experts say the potential solutions are complicated.

A systematic and intentional investment in hospitals that disproportionately serve Black individuals, suggested Maddox. And even beyond healthcare, economic development in neighborhoods and communities.

Asch said one solution would be to decrease the number of uninsured people and find a way to get more revenue to the underfunded hospitals.

What if Medicaid paid at higher rates than it does? Asch said. We could redress some of the financial differences, but it wouldnt fix everything. Its a tangled web. Its not just money.

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Differences Between Blacks, Whites With COVID-19 - Healthline

Rather than a return to normalcy, university and college leaders can encourage their campuses to embrace more productive conversations across lines of difference.

This fall will see American colleges and universities re-open their doors to in-person learning. We have all missed the energy of a buzzing campus, yet our enthusiasm is tempered with questions: How smoothly will we readapt to the classroom? How has technology newly impacted learning? With Zoom pushing everyone further online for the past year and half, how will near-constant social media outrage and crisis-level reporting impact campus dialogue?

Kyle Sebastian Vitale, Ph.D., is the Director of Programs at Heterodox Academy.

With classrooms reopening, campus leaders are in a unique position to promote meaningful dialogue and constructive disagreement as students process the emotional experiences and immense questions of the past year. Rather than a return to normalcy, university and college leaders can encourage their campuses to embrace more productive conversations across lines of difference.

Students, instructors, and staff are carrying back to campus their personal experiences of COVID-19, the killing of George Floyd and others, the January 6 events at the Capitol, and more. Campus leaders can use this opportunity to embrace the unique role of reconvening students for on-campus discussions following lockdown. As they do so, their words and visibility can shape expectations and remind their communities of shared values. These approaches will matter. With emotions high, strategic messaging and encouragement can help ground on-campus dialogue in mutual respect.

As you think about reconvening your own community this fall, consider these five strategies for promoting meaningful dialogue and constructive disagreement.

Campus leaders have the privilege to convene bold, authentic dialogue that promotes constructive disagreement without marginalizing others. I will always remember how the president of my alma mater embodied our shared identity as scholar-servants. She was intentional in using the phrase, reminded us of the wider world it pointed to, and modeled it in her teaching and volunteerism. It bound us together and drew us beyond our self-defensive mechanisms. By staying visible, underscoring shared values, and signaling civil and charitable debate over polarization and anger, campus leaders can elevate dialogue and set a new standard for normal.

Kyle Sebastian Vitale, Ph.D., is the Director of Programs at Heterodox Academy, a non-partisan collaborative of over 5,000 professors, administrators, and graduate students committed to promoting open inquiry, viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement in institutions of higher learning. He has taught courses and workshops in writing, literature, and pedagogy for over a decade at the University of Delaware, Yale University, the University of New Haven, and Temple University.

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5 strategies for promoting meaningful campus dialogue this fall | - University Business

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative wants its members to know that there is a potential that the cooperative will temporarily cut power this summer to reduce the risk of power lines sparking wildfires.

The Baker City-based cooperative urges members to prepare for that possibility.

Joe Hathaway, communications manager for OTEC, said power transmission and distribution lines would be de-energized only if the fire threat and other risk factors, such as strong winds, posed an abnormally severe threat.

The thing we really want to reiterate is were not saying the sky is falling or anything like that, Hathaway said. This is a last resort option. We know losing power is a big deal and its the last thing wed ever want to do. But in the interest of protecting our communities, it could be a possibility.

Theres a lot of factors that go into that the red flag warnings, wind speed, conditions on the ground, the fire threat to our infrastructure that would definitely be one of the ones that would make us decide which lines to initiate, Hathaway said. And then, on-the-ground observations from some community partners, from the Forest Service and other agencies.

OTEC officials pointed out in a press release that other power providers have used intentional outages over the past few years including some during the Labor Day fires that devastated parts of western and southern Oregon.

If OTEC decides an intentional outage is necessary, the cooperative will try to notify its members as soon as possible through a variety of channels, including automated phone calls, press releases and posts on social media and the cooperatives website otec.coop.

If an outage is necessary, OTEC workers will inspect lines and other equipment, once the extreme weather has passed, to ensure there is no damage.

If so, repairs would be made before the power was restored. Outages could last for hours or up to several days.

OTEC recommends its members in Baker, Union, Grant and Harney counties prepare for potential outages.

Our whole point is just to say be as prepared as possible, Hathaway said. And be prepared because, you know its a last resort, and these outages could last a day or more. We just want people to be ready.

Update your contact information with OTEC via your online account or by calling 541-523-3616.

Have a personal safety plan in place for every member of your household, including a plan for your pets and/or livestock.

Sign up for your countys emergency notification system. You can find that by calling your county or you can find a list of OTEC-served counties at otec.coop/safety-first.

Plan for any medical needs like medications that need to be refrigerated or devices that require power, such as oxygen tanks.

Create or restock your emergency supply kit including food, water, flashlights, a radio, fresh batteries, first aid supplies, and cash.

Identify backup charging methods for phones and medical equipment.

Know how to open your garage door manually.

Ensure any backup generators are ready to operate safely.

Identify the unique needs of your family and loved ones in the area for your emergency plan.

Designate an emergency meeting location.

Make sure to disconnect from OTECs system using an approved disconnect switch before using a generator to prevent backfeed, which could be deadly to utility workers attempting to turn power back on.

Do not overload the generator, use it to only power essential appliances or equipment.

Only operate the generator outside, not indoors.

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OTEC says outages possible if wildfire risk gets severe - Baker City Herald