View as Webpage - COVID-19 and the BLACK COMMUNITY - Part 2 - APRIL 6, 2020
Greetings!

We all know the old saying:

When White folks catch a cold, Black folks get pneumonia ;”

and in general, this can be applied to most negative impacts on black life, however, it is the potential health and economic implications of COVID-19 that may prove to be even more devastating to African-Americans .

Please find below, moves to action and additional Covid-19-related information of interest.
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COAL urges its membership and larger community-of-interest to please Be Smart and Be Safe and for those who can, please assist those less fortunate during these deadly challenging times, with compassion and a real sense of urgency.

Respectfully,
COAL Board of Directors
   
"The time to work seriously and collectively, to improve the state of our Community, is upon us..."
Let's Get to Work
#SocialJusticeSOS - Thought Leaders Discussion
The past several weeks have prompted unprecedented levels of turmoil and unpredictability due to rising alarm over COVID-19. While American society has taken precautionary measures to counter the spread of the virus, those most vulnerable to societal neglect remain most impacted. Coronavirus did not create the stark social, financial, and political inequalities that define life for so many Americans, but it has made them more strikingly visible than any moment in recent history. Unfortunately, some of the intersectional dimensions of these structural disparities remain undetected and unreported.

As we witness this unprecedented moment, some of us from home and some of us from the front lines, we want to take the opportunity to gather together and share a piece of what we’re each seeing and experiencing. Join us on April 8th at 8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. PST) as thought leaders around the country discuss the current crisis, explore how we can move forward together to protect and uplift the most vulnerable among us, and imagine the world we hope to see emerge on the other side. RSVP
CALL TO ACTION

You may be surprised to know that the life expectancy in predominately black communities are up to 30 years less than their white counterparts in other communities, just a few miles away. The failure of the government's ability to supply even the minimum resources in the black communities, is deadly and unjust. The people in Chicago must have greater information and far more resources than currently available to deal safely and effectively with this pandemic. I still see people gathered in crowds, in Chicago, because we are failing to communicate in a direct and effective manner to the black community how serious and severe the COVID-19 pandemic is, and that it WILL mean life or death for many of our community members if they do not receive this message. We must obtain a heat map from the department of public health immediately showing COVID-19 cases and the response to each case or Black people's death will be as invisible as COVID-19.
Federal COVID-19 Relief 
To address the uncertainty and instability many Americans are facing during this outbreak, the federal government passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provides assistance to hospitals, nonprofits, individuals, and businesses.
Community Activist, Social Media Guru and Friend.
Dealing with our environmental challenge, COVID-19, it is not our easiest time. My organization, The Partnership, is still servicing our community with resources and jobs (please read and review information below)  To assist with this outreach I am asking that you send this information to your database. I will share tracking information of where they received this information and inform how many called.

This is NOT my new normal and very hopeful we will get through this soon. We will not let our communities become victim. Thank You  

If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me. Please make me aware when you will distribute. Thank You 

SWS- Stay Safe, Stay, Well and STAY BLESSED
:SMILE"
Marion
In Chicago, 70% of COVID-19 Deaths Are Black
The COVID-19 virus is killing black residents in Cook County at disproportionately high rates, according to early data analyzed by WBEZ.

While black residents make up only 23% of the population in the county, they account for 58% of the COVID-19 deaths. And half of the deceased lived in Chicago, according to data from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. 
RCH Begins Covid-19 Drive-Through Testing; First South Side Community Hospital to Provide Testing

The New Roseland Community Hospital, 45 W. 111th St. became the first Safety Net hospital on the South Side to offer drive-through testing for the Covid-19 virus. The New RCH ramped up by testing approximately 30 Chicago Police Officers last Friday, April 3. The New RCH also distributed protective masks to every police officer in the 5th district as needed. Tim Egan, CEO and Dr. Terrill Applewhite, Medical Director, Covid-19 Task Force; were both on hand to explain the new drivethrough testing program. For complete details about the new program, call the New RCH at 773-995-3000.
In 1918 and 2020, race colors America’s response to epidemics
A look at how Jim Crow affected the treatment of African Americans
fighting the Spanish flu
April 1, 2020
In American epidemics, race is a preexisting condition.

Whether it’s the influenza pandemic of 1918 or COVID-19 over a century later, race and ethnicity have been, and continue to be, enormous factors in determining whether people will receive medical attention when they become ill, and the sort of attention they will receive.
As of the evening of April 6, 2020:
What We Believe
The Coalition of African American Leaders believes that it is important to examine the critical issues confronting the African American community where injustice, inequality and the absence of access and opportunity continue to prevail, thereby negatively impacting us as a people. COAL is an assemblage that advocates and organizes for appropriate and responsible public policy change, system behavior change and equality of opportunity. We aim to achieve for all of our people the fullness of the life experience without any form of racism or exclusion as a deterrent. We believe we must prepare ourselves for the opportunity of this full participation, thereby achieving the necessary education and training to participate.