The Sacramento African American COVID-19 Outreach Coalition members are urging all of our elected officials and administrators to step up in support of the most vulnerable in our community during this crisis.
We respectfully request that the following be addressed and implemented immediately:
1. Open multiple COVID-19 testing sites in areas where the target population can access them — with particular attention given to our homeless population;
2. Improve access to health services as the mortality rate for African Americans appears to be double that of their counterparts;
3. Ongoing release of demographically segmented data related to COVID-19 infections and deaths;
4. Launch a targeted community outreach and education campaign to motivate and inform the African American community to participate in the testing and treatment services and to take steps to protect themselves and their families;
5. Establish regular and transparent dialogue with the African American community about the availability of state and federal resources that will be received by the county and city to address the impact of the virus;
6. A commitment by law enforcement not to criminalize African Americans while adhering to COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing masks;
7. Establish an African American small business investment fund to ensure the equitable distribution of business relief funds in order to maintain the Black business sector; and
8. Convene an African American COVID-19 Committee to help inform steps the city and county will be taking to address the health crisis as it related to the African American community.
For further discussion please contact:
Greg King via phone: (916) 470-2077 or email: loyalkingjent@yahoo.com,
Faye Wilson Kennedy via phone: (916) 812-7429 or email: fayek@springmail.com,
Tecoy Porter via phone: (916) 402-6781 or email: tmporter@sacgenesis.org
