Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - WKTV In Focus segment: Ken Norris, WKTV interview with Teresa Branson

For the complete WKTV Journal In Focus interview, visit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-J5qpJs-5Q. To access the article, click here.   

CDC and WhatsApp, a multiplatform messaging app, launch “Mi Chat Sobre Vacunas COVID” to help Spanish-speaking communities find information about vaccine locations and get answers to frequently asked questions

The CDC and WhatsApp, a multiplatform messaging app, launched Mi Chat Sobre Vacunas COVID to increase vaccination rates among Latinx Americans. Users can message (833) 636-1122 from their app and receive information about nearby vaccination locations, arrange a free ride to get vaccinated, and get answers to frequently asked questions from the CDC helpline.

HHS’s COVID-19 Community Corps adds COVID-19 toolkits for LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and faith-based leaders (also available in Spanish) to its library of resources

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) national campaign We Can Do This aims to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing. Through a nationwide network of trusted messengers and consistent, fact-based messaging, the campaign helps people make informed decisions about their health and COVID-19. The effort is driven by communication science and provides tailored information for at-risk groups.

"We Can Do This" recently added toolkits for LGBTQ+ Community, People with Disabilities, Faith-Based Leaders, and Faith-Based Leaders – Spanish under the Resources and Toolkits tab on wecandothis.hhs.gov. 

43rd Annual Hispanic Festival



We are nearing the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan’s 43rd annual Hispanic Festival, scheduled for Friday, August 6th, through Sunday, August 8th downtown Grand Rapids at Calder Plaza. For more information, a full list of the entertainment lineup, or if you would like to volunteer at the Festival, please visit the Grand Rapids Hispanic Festival Facebook page, or contact Communications and Fundraising Manager, Claudia Pohlen, at 616-742-0221.

Kent County Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Team 

A Special Shout Out to the Kent County Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Team (Partnership Team), formerly established as the Kent County COVID-19 Church Task Force. The Partnership consists of faith communities and leaders from across Kent County that are committed to working with the County to address community needs. The Partnership has gained significant traction and plans to continue its labor of love and service in Kent County and our community beyond the COVID-19 crisis. The Partnership Team has been instrumental in assisting with vaccine outreach, education and community engagement and will expand their role to also support the Kent County Office of Inclusion and other County departments.

• There are over 200 faith-based communities that currently participate on the Partnership Team.
• It was initially funded by Cornerstone University using a grant from Lilly Endowment to the Urban Church Leadership Center’s Thriving Congregations Initiative.
• On a typical weekly Kent County video call between 40-70 faith leaders participate.
• The Partnership Team was formed over a year ago in response to the growing COVID-19 crisis in the community and was initiated by Rev. Joe Jones and Rev. Khary Bridgewater and in conjunction with Kent County Administrator, Wayman Britt and the Kent County Health Department.
• It is chaired by leaders from the faith community including: Rev. Nathaniel Moody, Rev. Jeff Manion and Rev. Miguel Toro and Rev. Khary Bridgewater serves as Coordinator.
• It was initially funded by Cornerstone University using a grant from a Lilly Endowment to the Urban Church Leadership Center’s Thriving Congregations Initiative.
• It is supported by staff from the Thriving Congregations Initiative including Rev. Khary Bridgewater, Dr. Linda Haveman, Jennifer Greer and Alvin Chung.
• The Partnership Team has met weekly for over a year with the Kent County Health Department staff.
• Key accomplishments include:
• Working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and state leadership to develop COVID safety guidelines for houses of worship across the state.
• Helping faith-based organizations to develop their own COVID-19 safety policies.
• Maintain the www.covidchurchresources.com website to provide resources for faith leaders and communities.
• Work with the Health Department to regularly distribute Bulletin Bits news updates.
• Work with over 100 faith-based organizations to publicly support local health systems and close for three weeks during the height of the November outbreak.
• Work with over 150 faith-based organizations to publicly adopt the Religious Congregation COVID-19 Vaccination Pledge to encourage all members of their congregations and community to get vaccinated, create volunteer networks to support community vaccination, provide resources and transportation to help people get vaccinated, and lead by example and personally get vaccinated.
• Develop vaccination scheduling programs in the Black and Latinx community registering over 2,500 for vaccination.
• Launched the “A Shot of Love” campaign that included door-to-door canvassing at 11 church sites to schedule community residents for vaccination.

Secured a $25,000 grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation to support transportation and other supports from the Partnership Team’s work advocating for COVID-19 safety in the community (the grant is administered by the Baxter Community Center). Please check out the link to the GR Community Foundation’s Partners In Community publication that features the Kent County Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Team. 

Community Health Improvement Planning

The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) is looking to engage partner agencies, organizations, and residents in the Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP) process. The CHIP is an action-oriented strategic plan to address the community’s top health concerns that were identified in the 2020 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The top concerns identified in the 2020 CHNA include; Access to Care, Discrimination and Racial Inequity, Economic Security, and Mental Health. Anyone who would like an active role in identifying and implementing strategies to address the listed concerns is encouraged to participate in a CHIP subcommittee. If you are interested in participating in a subcommittee—either as a co-chair or general member—please complete the following survey by Monday August 2, 2021. 

Kent County Community Connectors

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we heard from multiple community partners and public health workers that greater coordinated efforts and connections are essential.  One of the biggest impacts we can make in slowing the spread, reducing stigma, and building trust is providing community members with timely updates and credible information through a collective effort. It is also essential to enhance bidirectional communication between diverse population groups and Kent County.

To that end, the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) worked with community partners to identify Community Connectors.  A Community Connector serves as a Liaison between KCHD and community in response to COVID-19. These individuals provide COVID-19 information and vaccine education in a culturally competent manner. Community Connectors work as a team and have frequent contact with Kent County COVID-19 workgroups including but not limited to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team, Communications Team, Medical Director and KCHD’s Center for Community Health Strategy. The relationships we build now don’t stop with COVID-19. As we look ahead to advance diversity, equity and inclusion across Kent County, we have a tremendous opportunity to expand our reach with Community Connectors and multiple community partners to address Community Priorities identified within the Kent County Strategic Plan and the Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment.

Here’s what some of our Kent County Community Connectors wanted to share for what they like best about being a Community Connector:  



Nicole Lam, Asian Community Connector:

"I am proud, grateful, and humbled to be a Kent County Health Department Community Connector. I’ve been doing community work for several years and becoming a community connector has helped me connect and engage with my community more effectively. I’ve learned so much about public health and about available resources that can impact the community. I thank the team at the Kent County Health Department for their tireless work to ensure that all residents have equal access to services. I feel wonderful to be a part of the team."

Rebecca Deng, Refugee Community Connector:

“Community Connector is about bringing the community needs and resources together in a balanced way that benefits the people and the environment! Being a community connector requires a cultural intelligence of navigating all the needs, norms and beliefs of the society in a way that supports and protects human dignity.”

Krishna Bista, Nepali Community Connector:

“The role of the Community Connectors is pretty apparent during the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID and the rollout of the vaccine. The Community Connectors being trusted members of the communities, people often come for help regardless of health or other concerns. My work through the KCHD and Bhutanese Community of Michigan was noticed by the State Refugee Health Coordinator and Ingham County Health Department, and they reached out for support to mimic the collaborative work.“

We are grateful to be able to work with each Community Connector.  

Sal Nassar, Middle Eastern Community Connector:

“It’s my pleasure to serve the community. I feel that am doing something good for my new country USA. I love being the person who represents the Health Department/Kent County to my people. A true community is not just about being geographically close to someone or part of the same social network, it’s about feeling connected and responsible for what happens, humanity is unlimited in our community, and everyone plays a crucial rule.”