Resources for continuing to build Beloved Community during the coronavirus pandemic
It is not uncommon to hear people suggest that the lessons we are learning will make things better on the other side of this pandemic. However, we would suggest that things will not necessarily be different if we don’t work with vigilance now for the changes we hope to see. Despite the challenges of organizing and working together (in person) for racial justice in this time, the challenges faced by our sisters and brothers of color have been going on for hundreds of years and are only exacerbated by this virus.
While we must respond to immediate needs of food, water, shelter, security and safety for those around us, the fact that so many are without points to the realities that come with systemic racism. And this makes the case for our continued advocacy with community leaders: city council members, boards of supervisors, business leaders, state legislators, and members of Congress.
While we hear that many workers have not only lost their jobs and their health insurance, we know that many other workers have never had health insurance provided through their employers. As many are beginning to turn their attention to “re-opening,” it is important to remember that many of these problems will remain the same unless we act now to make a difference.
COVID-19 AND Race in IOWA
As of May 13th the State of Iowa’s COVID-19 Dashboard indicated that people of color, in our state, currently account for 48% of Coronavirus cases – while they make up less than 10% of our state population. Unfortunately, we are unable to get those breakdowns by county, but we do know that 27% Hispanic or Latino, 7% are Asian, 1% Pacific Islander, 10% are Black or African American, and 1% Indigenous, 18% are classified as “unknown or pending” This last category indicates the ongoing inability or unwillingness to acknowledge and honor people of color for who they are, especially our Indigenous sisters and brothers, and those from the Latino, Latina, Latinx communities.
WATCH the series of town halls hosted by the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP on “What’s Next for Our Community and COVID-19.” On Facebook Live May 27-30, June 3-5 at 6pm. Topics include: health, civic engagement, education, climate justice, criminal justice, and hate crimes.
COVID AND OUR COMMUNITY: WHAT’S GOING ON AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? PART I, HEALTHCARE A two-part summer series with medical personnel and community organization representatives focusing on the impact of the Coronavirus epidemic in the Cedar Rapids area. Sessions on the first three Sundays in June will examine health care, and June 28 through the last Sunday in July will feature non-‐profits’ efforts to address COVID‐19 challenges. We hope this summer series will offer an opportunity for discussion that deepens our understanding, and offers ways of providing more effective support and actions among and with the disadvantaged in our community. All classes are by Zoom invitation on Sunday starting at 9:00 am and ending at 10:00 am. Please email for an invitation.
HELPING INDIVIDUALS ACCESS RESOURCES DURING COVID-19
Despite the fact that we receive conflicting messages from our government, the CDC has posted a helpful analysis of COVID-19 in ethnic and minority communities with some suggestions on how to help.
ICAreaTogether lists resources for access to food, social services, resources for businesses, information from educational institutions, and information on child care. While it is specific to the Iowa City corridor area, it suggests other ways communities can organize.
COVID Recovery Iowa offers free counseling and support for all Iowans affected by COVID-19.
The Office of Latino Affairs, the Iowa Spanish Helpline Task Force (Directors from Latino Centers and other Latino Leaders across Iowa) and EMBARC, Iowa's first refugee-led social service organization, released the statewide Iowa Spanish Helpline to help people access resources during this time Línea de Ayuda en Iowa 515-344-3936.
Suzanne Hollifield, Volunteer Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Hurricane Harvey Recovery Programand Anthony Suggs, Missioner for Advocacy & Social Justice in the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado shared examples of ways churches can help individuals access benefits. LISTEN
The Rev. Stacy Stringer, Director for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Hurricane Harvey Recovery Program and Deacon Elaine Clements, Episcopal Relief & Development Partner in Response and Resilience shared ways individual and collective gifts within the Church can meet the needs created by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. LISTEN
COVID-19 AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
The Center for Worker Justice in Eastern Iowa offers ways to assist immigrant families and others during this crisis.
Lariza Garzon, Executive Director for the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry in North Carolina and Marisol Delgado, licensed counselor for the Hurricane Harvey Recovery Program in Houston, Texas engaged in a conversation around the inequalities immigrants face during the COVID-19 pandemic. LISTEN
In June, Episcopal Migration Ministries will be hosting Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action, a series of webinars to learn and advocate with and on behalf of immigrants, DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum seekers. REGISTER.
COVID-19 and indigenous communities in iowa
Tama County, where the Meskwaki settlement is located, continues to experience a high rate of COVID-19 cases—1 of every 42 residents in Tama county has tested positive (compare that to Johnson county, where 1 of every 250 residents has tested positive).
While the Meskwaki Nation remains under their own shelter in place order thru the beginning of June, one of our community partners, Dawson Davenport, of the Meskwaki Nation, is still working towards opening the Indigenous Peoples Art Gallery and Café. He is offering regular online experiences, with music, art, and spoken word. You can make a donation to support the ongoing work of the gallery and café HERE.
Building capacity and making change in community
Engage with the 2020 Vision resources to build your knowledge, increase what you notice, and find ways to engage in anti-racist work where you are.
LISTEN to A Brave Space podcast from the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing.
Participate in a training for allies with the founders of the Humanize My Hoodie movement.
Familiarize yourself with the work of CampaignZero - and their list of policy solutions to end police violence in America that you and your organization can lobby for on the local, state, and national level.
Racial Equity Tools has put together an excellent COVID-19 toolkit including resources for Analysis, Resources and Tools, Healing and Community Care, Organizing and Solidarity, Resource Building & Rapid Response and Virtual Work and Online Engagement
WATCH Injustice amid the pandemic -- what is the church called to do? In this video, the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary, lays responsibility for justice squarely at the feet of the church -- a powerful theological motivator.
Explore the resources offered by The Highlander Center. The Highlander has a long and rich history of empowering people to lead change for racial justice. During the pandemic, they have hosted conversations on mutual aid.
In striking ways, the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the fragility of the US economy and the immense power disparities and systemic disadvantages built into our social contract. Check out the work of the Roosevelt Institute focused on what the immediate response to COVID-19 should look like and how to build a long-term recovery and create structural change as the economic and health crises stabilize.
READ Stepping Into the Moment -- The Coronavirus Crisis as an opening for transformative change by Harmony Goldberg and the Grassroots Policy Project This user friendly guide examines the relationship between crisis and social change, offers guidelines for responding to crisis, lays groundwork for rebuilding on new terms, works on making meaning and changing the public narrative, and includes a helpful discussion guide.