COVID-19 Equity
Partnering with local leaders, grassroots efforts, and healthcare services to target Long COVID-19 and health inequities.
Objective
Through our Long COVID Peer Advocacy Program we hire community members as Long COVID ambassadors, spreading information about Long COVID management and support throughout their social networks.
About
Vital CxNs was founded in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic which demanded community-centered, coordinated action. We addressed vaccine and testing equity gaps along the blue hill corridor by bringing COVID-19 prevention and protection resources to local community spaces. As the work evolved, we partnered with the Thoracic Foundation and the Massachusetts Community Engagement Alliance to hire and train community members as Long Covid Ambassadors, providing information and support to residents navigating the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 and the ongoing impact of Long COVID.
Many community members don’t know about all the new [Long COVID] resources available to them. [The Long COVID Project] was a great opportunity for me to help my community know where they can go now that cases are rising and less people are talking about COVID after the pandemic.
Jayme Bonds, Long COVID Project Community Ambassador
Partners
The Work in Action
Identify high impact community spaces (churches, community centers, public housing, etc.) through which to host Long COVID Community Conversations.
Hire and train community members as Long COVID ambassadors and Community Convo co-facilitators to lead conversations on Long COVID symptoms, disease management and local resources.
Host wide-spread community forums lifting up community perspectives on Long COVID, and spreading information on clinical approaches and supportive services addressing Long COVID.
Impact
5
Community members trained as Long COVID Ambassadors
12
Long COVID community convos facilitated online and in person
252
Community members received Long COVID information and resources
