(calm guitar music) (calm music) - [Narrator] This pandemic is devastating communities of color.

According to the CDC, Latinos and African Americans are hospitalized at rates more than 4 1/2 times- - [Man] I'll give you an example of Chelsea, a community in Massachusetts.

One of the highest case rates in that community, about 2/3 of the population is Latino, and about- - [Narrator] Counterparts, too.

Why such disparity?

(calm music) (woman speaking Spanish) - [Brian] I'm an essential worker, so every day is a risk that I decide to take.

- These are the folks who clean your offices, bag your groceries.

These are the essential workers that keep this city moving.

(calm music) We are basically the community across the waterfront that provides a lifeline for many, many communities.

(calm music) I guess a silver lining would be that it brought us together.

Every leader, every person in this community said, "All hands on deck."

(people chattering) (man speaks Spanish) Hi, are you in charge?

I work for the city of Chelsea.

I'm a city counselor and we're giving free money to businesses who need help after the pandemic, so your.

When the idea of providing emergency relief funds for some of our local businesses came upon, I jumped on the opportunity because I understand those struggles.

So that right there, it tells you about the program.

- Yeah, you go down- - And then you scroll down and the application is there.

- Oh, okay.

- Okay?

If you have any questions, I give you my card.

- [Shopkeeper] Okay.

- If you have any questions, call me.

- [Shopkeeper] Call you.

- [Judith] Okay?

- Thank you.

- Thank you so much.

What I hear often from outsiders who know very little about Chelsea is that it is a community plagued by violence, a community plagued by drugs, but reality, at least for me, is that Chelsea is a vibrant community.

Chelsea is a hard-working community, and that's what makes us special.

(machinery rumbling) - The risk that I take working and being exposed to COVID is probably at 100% because ultimately our job is to be out and interact with the community.

COVID, it really affected my relationship with my kids.

Just want to pick them up and grab them and hug them, but I can't take the risk, it's hard.

I think that Chelsea has been able to take up the COVID challenge simply because we're not afraid of anything.

- [Judith] (speaking Spanish) As a community, if I can use one word, it would be resilient.

Chelsea is a very resilient community, and we need to help ourselves because no one from out there is gonna come and help us.

- [Brian] How's going, how's it going?

- [Child] Hi, Daddy.

- [Brian] Hi, I miss you guys.

There's unity in Chelsea.

You know, if nobody wants to help us, it's fine.

We got each other.

(lively music) - [Woman] Right here, God bless you guys, stay safe.

- [Judith] We're a community that's composed of people who come to this country with the hope of making their lives better but also making communities better, and I hope that people don't take that for granted.

(lively music)