>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH
RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND
JENNA FLANAGAN.
>>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY --
SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III,
SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA
PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT
ANTI-SEMITISM.
THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN
GANZ COONEY FUND.
BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ,
BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE
AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION,
PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN
ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP
MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH
WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA
SOHN FOUNDATION.
THE JPB FOUNDATION.
♪
>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
"METROFOCUS."
I'M JACK FORD.
THE RACE TO BOOK THEIR VACCINE
APPOINTMENTS, A DEFINING ISSUE
OF THE PANDEMIC, RACIAL
DISPARITY IS REEMERGING.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT "NEW YORK
TIMES" STUDY, THE VACCINATION
RATE FOR BLACK AMERICANS IS HALF
THAT OF WHITE PEOPLE.
AND THE GAP FOR HISPANICS IS
EVEN LARGER.
LOCAL NONPROFITS AND MEMBERS OF
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY ARE TRYING
TO BRIDGE THIS DIVIDE AND
DISSEMINATE ACCURATE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE UNDERLYING VIRUS
ITSELF.
TONIGHT AS PART OF OUR ONGOING
CHASING THE DREAM INITIATIVE ON
POVERTY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
IN AMERICA, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING
THESE EFFORTS IN NEW YORK CITY.
WE HAVE A COLLECTION OF FOLKS
WHO ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO DO
THAT.
WE WANT TO WELCOME THEM ALL INTO
OUR CONVERSATION.
WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY FIRST
DAVON RUSSELL, PRESIDENT OF THE
WOMEN'S HOUSING AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION A BRONX
BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN HOSTING
VIRTUAL VACCINE EDUCATION
WORKSHOPS.
DR. SUSANNA MORALES HELPING
SPREAD ACCURATE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE VACCINE THROUGH OTHER
INITIATIVES ACROSS THE CITY.
WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MARCELLA
TILLETT, VICE PRESIDENT OF
PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS AT THE
BROOKLYN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, A
NONPROFIT INVESTING IN THE
BOROUGH'S COMMUNITY-LED RESPONSE
TO NEEDS EXACERBATED BY THE
PANDEMIC.
WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SPENDING
SOME TIME WITH US HERE AT
"METROFOCUS."
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> LET ME START WITH A BIGGER
PICTURE QUESTION FOR YOU.
THEN WE'LL GET INTO THE DETAILS
OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND
WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING HERE.
SO IN THE INTRODUCTION, I
MENTIONED THE RACIAL DISPARITY.
WE'VE SEEN IT PLAYING OUT
SIGNIFICANTLY THROUGHOUT THE
TERM OF THE PANDEMIC HERE.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS, WE
HAD HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING
WHEN WE WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS
VACCINE AND THIS MOVEMENT THAT
WAS GOING TO BE IN PLACE TO MAKE
SURE THAT, WE WERE TOLD,
EVERYONE WHO WANTED ONE WOULD
HAVE ACCESS TO A VACCINE AND
THEY'D ALL GET VACCINATED IN A
UNIFORM FASHION.
AND YET WE'RE SEEING ONCE AGAIN
DESPITE THIS PROMISE THE RACIAL
DISPARITY PLAYING OUT IN TERMS
OF THE VACCINATION PROGRAM.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
DAVON, WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS
AFTER ALL THE PROMISES OF HOW
WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS TOGETHER
AND EVERYBODY WILL BE TAKEN CARE
OF, WE SEE THE GAPS THAT I
MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION.
>> IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND
ONE THAT I WRESTLE WITH ALL THE
TIME.
GIVEN WHAT WE KNEW WAS COMING,
WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A
VACCINE, SEVERAL VACCINES AND
THEY WERE RIGHT ON THE HORIZON.
WHAT HAPPENED?
I THINK THE FIRST THING IS, YOU
KNOW, THE URGENCY AROUND THE
VACCINES THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW,
MAKING THEM AND GETTING THEM
OUT, FIGURING OUT HOW TO STORE
THEM AND ALL THE LOGISTICS
CONNECTED TO THAT REALLY TOOK UP
A LOT OF SPACE, I BELIEVE, AND
PEOPLE DIDN'T REALLY PAY MUCH
ATTENTION TO WHAT IT WAS GOING
TO TAKE TO GET THOSE VACCINES
INTO THE ARMS OF PEOPLE.
FOR ME, THE FIRST PLACE I WENT
TO WAS WHAT DO PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT
THE VACCINE.
THE EDUCATION BECAME FOR ME THE
PRIMARY FOCUS, FOLLOWED CLOSELY
BY HOW ACCESSIBLE THE VACCINES
WERE GOING TO BE.
FOR ME IT WENT RIGHT TO THE
HEART OF IT ALL, BECAUSE JUST
LIKE THE DISEASE ITSELF, COVID,
PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT,
PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT
IT.
SIMILARLY, I THINK, THE VACCINE
IS JUST AS MUCH A MYSTERY TO A
NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE WE WORK
WITH.
>> SUSANNA AND MARCELLA, YOUR
THOUGHTS ON THIS ALSO.
SUSANNA, YOU FIRST.
>> I THINK THAT THE ISSUES ARE
OBVIOUSLY COMPLICATED.
FIRST OF ALL, THE PRIOR FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION DID NOT REALLY
APPARENTLY FOCUS AT ALL ON A
PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.
THEY FOCUSED MAINLY ON GETTING
THE VACCINE OUT.
I THINK THAT LOCAL AND STATE
PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES HAVE
BEEN SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMED,
HISTORICALLY UNDERFUNDED.
SO THAT A REALLY INTENSIVE
PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORT DID NOT
REALLY START.
WE HOPED VACCINES WERE COMING.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD
COME EXACTLY.
CERTAINLY A PRELIMINARY PLANNING
EFFORT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.
IN ADDITION, SO THERE'S ALL OF
THAT AND SO I THINK WE'VE BEEN
PLAYING CATCHUP IN THE PUBLIC
EDUCATION REALM EVER SINCE THE
VACCINES WERE DEPLOYED.
WHEN THE RUMORS STARTED THAT
THEY WERE GOING TO COME OUT, I
STARTED TO ASK MY PATIENTS WHAT
DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS VACCINE
THING?
MOST OF THEM SAID, IT'S TOO FAST
AND I WANT TO LET SOMEBODY ELSE
GET IT FIRST.
I PROMISED MY PATIENTS, I
PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL DO THE
RESEARCH, READ ALL ABOUT THESE
VACCINES MYSELF BEFORE I
RECOMMEND THEM TO YOU AND BEFORE
I TAKE THEM MYSELF.
THAT IS WHEN I STARTED TO WORK
ON THIS.
I GUESS THE OTHER PIECE, I
THINK, IS THE REALLY TERRIBLE
ROLLOUT THAT WAS VERY CLUMSY,
WAS DIGITALLY BASED WHEN WE ARE
STILL A VERY ANALOG WORLD,
ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
SO ASSUMING THAT EVERYONE WOULD
JUST JUMP ON TERRIBLY-BUILT
WEBSITES WAS A MISTAKE.
>> MARCELLA, HOW ABOUT YOU?
>> GOSH, SO MUCH OF WHAT WAS
JUST SHARED I'M RESONATING WITH
ME AND I'M TAKING NOTES.
SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST SHARED,
SUSANNA THAT I THINK IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO DIG INTO IS YOU
HAVE A TRUSTED RELATIONSHIP WITH
YOUR PATIENTS.
THEY CAME TO YOU WITH A CONCERN.
YOU MADE A COMMITMENT TO THEM TO
GO BACK, DO THE RESEARCH.
YOU TOOK THEIR CONCERNS
SERIOUSLY AND YOU'RE ENGAGING IN
A CONVERSATION.
I THINK THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROVIDING
EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
MESSAGING AND DROPPING OFF
INFORMATION AND WHAT HAPPENS
INSIDE OF A TRUSTED RELATIONSHIP
WITH A PROVIDER, WITH A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, WITH AN
ENTITY THAT HAS BEEN WITH YOU
NOT JUST THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
BUT REALLY SHOWS UP IN YOUR LIFE
IN A TRUSTED AND CARING WAY.
THAT IS NOT THE RELATIONSHIP
THAT MOST PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR HAVE WITH THE MEDICAL
INDUSTRY, WITH THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS, WE DON'T PRETEND
LIKE PEOPLE JUST EMERGED WITH NO
HISTORY TO THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
AND IT'S NOT JUST HISTORICAL,
BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL
TODAY, ARE YOU TREATED WITH THE
KIND OF CARE AND RESPECT AND
AFFIRMATION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR IN A TRUSTED MEDICAL
PROVIDER.
I THINK ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT IS, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT WHOLE PEOPLE WITH
WHOLE HISTORIES.
A LOT OF THE MESSAGING IS ABOUT
ARMS.
ARMS ARE CONNECTED TO BODIES.
THESE BODIES HAVE HISTORIES IN
THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS
COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION AND
RESPECT THE CONCERNS, JUST LIKE
SUSANNA HAS SAID SHE DOES WITH
HER PATIENTS.
RESPECT THE REAL FEARS AND
APPREHENSION AND DESIRE FOR MORE
INFORMATION AND DESIRE FOR MORE
TIME TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE
IDEA THAT'S COMING FROM OUR
COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES WITHIN
OUR OWN FAMILIES.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO HAVE
THAT BE PART OF THE
CONVERSATION.
AND THAT TAKES TIME.
>> DAVON, WHAT WERE YOU HEARING?
SUSANNA TALKED ABOUT WHAT SHE
WAS HEARING FROM HER PATIENTS
AND MARCELLA I'LL COME TO YOU
ABOUT THIS ALSO.
BUT DAVON, YOU FIRST.
WHAT WERE YOU HEARING INITIALLY
WHEN YOU STARTED TO TALK TO
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT
THE NOTION OF, FIRST, THE VIRUS
ITSELF AND WHAT IT MEANT AND HOW
IT OCCURRED.
AND THEN THE IDEA OF THE
VACCI
VACCINATION.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
STILL FIND MYSELF TALKING ABOUT
WAS A YEAR AGO, YOU KNOW,
VIRTUALLY TODAY WHEN WE KIND OF
GOT A SENSE OF WHAT THIS VIRUS
WAS DOING AND THERE WAS AN
URGENCY TO CLOSE OUR OFFICES.
AND MY FIRST AND SINGULAR
THOUGHT WAS, WE COULD BE A PETRI
DISH AND THE SUBJECTS THAT WERE
PART OF THIS REALLY HORRIBLE
POTENTIAL EXPERIMENT WERE BLACK
AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING
IN OUR PLACE WHO ARE ON THE
FRONT LINES BEING EXPOSED AND NO
ONE IS TALKING TO THEM ABOUT
WHAT THIS COULD MEAN.
SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S WHAT ENDED
UP HAPPENING.
I WAS ON THE PHONE ALL SUMMER
CONSOLING SPOUSES AND FAMILY
MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES TO THIS DISEASE.
SO THAT WAS CRITICAL FOR ME.
LISTENING TO COMMUNITY, WHAT WE
HEARD, AGAIN, WAS THERE'S A
DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE FACTS AND
THE REALITY OF WHAT THE DISEASE
IS ALL ABOUT.
SIMILARLY, THAT TRENDED AND KIND
OF BORE OUT WITH RESPECT TO THE
VACCINE
MARCELLA TALKED ABOUT THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH CARE
PROVISION AND PATIENTS IN A
PLACE LIKE THE BRONX AND THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
THERE IS INSTITUTIONAL MISTRUST.
SO THAT'S YOUR STARTING PLACE.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.
SO FOR ME IT WAS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT
PEOPLE MESSAGING THIS.
SUSANNA IS THE PERFECT MESSENGER
IN MY MIND.
THAT'S WHY I RECRUITED HER ONCE
WE HAD HEARD ENOUGH.
THERE CAME POINT THAT WE HEARD
ENOUGH THAT IT WAS 40% WI.
WE RAN A SURVEY OF OUR STAFF AND
40% OF THEM WERE REPORTING THAT
THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, LITTLE TO NO
INTEREST IN BEING VACCINATED.
THAT SIGNALLED TO ME RIGHT AWAY
THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE AT
THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE END OF
T
THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT FOR
THEM.
>> MARCELLA, IN TERMS OF YOUR
CONVERSATIONS, YOUR COMMUNITIES,
WHAT WERE YOU HEARING INITIALLY?
>> SIMILARLY, WE ENGAGED IN A
PROCESS TO REALLY LISTEN AND
GATHER INFORMATION.
THE BROOKLYN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION HAD A COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, A SERIES OF
LISTENING SESSIONS WHERE WE
TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
BETWEEN DECEMBER AND FEBRUARY IN
TERMS OF THE VACCINES.
IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT VACCINES.
IT WAS ABOUT REALLY EVERYTHING
THAT FOLKS ARE EXPERIENCING AND
HOW THEY'D LIKE TO SEE US AS A
FOUNDATION RESPOND.
BUT THE VACCINES CAME UP A
NUMBER OF TIMES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK DAVON, WHAT
YOU HEARD FROM YOUR STAFF AND
SK
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE BRONX,
WE WERE ALSO HEARING IN BROOKLYN
THIS DESIRE TO WAIT AND SEE,
THIS I THINK MISTRUST OF THE
ACCURACY OF INFORMATION, THE
DISORGANIZED NATURE OF THE
DELIVERY OF THE INFORMATION NOT
JUST ABOUT THE VACCINES, BUT --
AND THERE'S NO REAL BLAME TO BE
PLACED HERE BECAUSE WE WERE
RECEIVING IN SOME RESPECTS
INFORMATION AS IT WAS BEING
DISCOVERED, YOU KNOW, IF WE
THINK ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
BUT TO HAVE THINGS CHANGE SO
QUICKLY, WEAR A MASK, DON'T WEAR
A MASK, WEAR A T-SHIRT OVER YOUR
FACE, NO, WEAR AN N95 MASK, DO
THIS, DO THAT.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT PLUGGED INTO THE TELEVISION
EVERY DAY AND NOT RECEIVING THIS
MINUTE-TO-MINUTE UPDATE, IT JUST
SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF CHAOTIC
INFORMATION.
THAT HAS NOT STOPPED.
WHAT CONTINUES WITH THESE
INTRACOMMUNAL CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK WE'RE HEARING A DESIRE
TO HAVE SPACE TO TALK ABOUT THE
FEELINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING,
THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING
UP.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD IS A FEELING
THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE NOT
BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND
THEY'RE BEING DISMISSED.
IT'S NOT A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN
ENGAGE.
IT'S EITHER YOU DO IT OR YOU
DON'T.
AND IF YOU DON'T, THEN YOU'RE
NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY OR
YOU'RE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE,
YOU'RE A CONSPIRACY THEORIST.
IT'S COUNTER TO WHAT WE SAY WE
WANT HEALTH CARE TO BE, WHICH IS
ACCESSIBLE, WHICH MEANS PEOPLE
NEED TO BE GIVEN THE
INFORMATION, THE SPACE AND THE
RESOURCES TO MAKE INFORMED
DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH.
THAT'S NOT THE PERSPECTIVE THAT
THIS CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING
FROM AND PEOPLE KNOW THAT AND
THEY'RE EXPRESSING THAT.
>> YOU MAKE AN INTERESTING POINT
ABOUT HOW WE REACT TO SOMEONE
WHO SAYS, I DON'T THINK SO OR,
I'M NOT SURE YET.
I FOUND MYSELF DOING THE SAME
THING, SAYING, NO, NO, NO, YOU
HAVE TO GET IT, THERE'S NO
REASON FOR YOU NOT TO GET IT,
JUST SORT OF THROWING IT INTO
YOUR FACE RATHER THAN, AS YOU
SAID, WHY DO YOU SAY THAT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BEING
DONE NOW, ESPECIALLY WHAT ALL OF
YOU WERE DOING.
DAVON, YOU SAID THAT'S WHY I
BROUGHT SUSANNA, DR. MORALES
INTO THIS.
WHY DID YOU THINK IT WAS
IMPERATIVE TO GET SOMEBODY WITH
HER BACKGROUND TO BE PART OF THE
CONVERSATION YOU'RE HAVING WITH
PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
>> WELL, TO BE FRANK, SOME OF
THE MISTRUST, SOME OF WHAT
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY'RE
SEEKING MEDICAL CARE WHEN
THEY'RE IN THEIR PHYSICIAN'S
OFFICES, THERE'S THAT REAL
DISCONNECT.
WE KIND OF WISH THERE WERE MORE
PEOPLE WHO WERE MADE IN OUR
IMAGE WHO ARE PROVIDING CARE TO
US.
AND WHETHER IT BEARS OUT TO BE
TRUE OR NOT, WE CONNECT WITH
THEM BASED ON THE FACT THAT
THEY'RE SIMILAR, BASED ON THE
FACT THAT THEY LOOK LIKE US.
FOR ME, SUSANNA REPRESENTS THE
BRONX.
SHE'S A BRONX-BORN, BRONX-RAISED
AND PROUD WOMAN WHO IS A
PHYSICIAN AND WHO HAS DEDICATED
HER LIFE TO PUBLIC MEDICINE IN A
WAY THAT SIGNALS TO ME THAT SHE
CARES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NEED
MEDICAL CARE, INCLUDING IN THIS
CASE A VACCINE.
SO I KNEW THAT THE MESSENGER,
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WAS KEY TO
GETTING PEOPLE THE RIGHT
INFORMATION, GETTING PEOPLE
LISTEN AND TRUST THE SOURCE OF
THE INFORMATION AND OF COURSE
ULTIMATELY THEY GET TO DECIDE
WHAT THEY DO.
I JUST FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO
HAVE NO ONE ELSE BUT SOMEONE WHO
WAS BROWN, FEMALE AND CARING.
AND THAT'S WHAT LED ME TO HER.
>> ARE YOU FINDING, SUSANNA, YOU
TALKED ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS
YOU'RE HAVING WITH YOUR
PATIENTS.
I THINK WE'D LIKE TO THINK THAT
IF YOU HEAR IT FROM YOUR DOCTOR,
IT'S A DONE DEAL, I'M GOING TO
DO IT.
ALL I NEED IS TO HAVE MY DOCTOR
TELL ME.
YOU'RE ALL SHAKING YOUR HEAD.
SUSANNA, HOW IS THAT WORKING?
WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND TOALK TO
THEM ARE THEY SAYING, GOOD, SIGN
ME UP?
BY YOU, I MEAN YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDICAL WORLD.
ARE YOU SEEING THAT IT'S BECOME
EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF GETTING
PEOPLE WHO WERE HESITANT TO SAY,
OKAY, I'M GOING TO GET IN LINE
NOW?
>> I'M EXPERIENCING A MIXTURE.
I MEAN, THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT
IT'S YOUR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN'S
RECOMMENDATION THAT IS MOST
EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF PEOPLE
ACCEPTING VACCINES OVERALL.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
EVERYBODY OBEYS US, OF COURSE.
OBEDIENCE IS NOT REALLY THE
GOAL.
THE DILEMMA, I FEEL PERSONALLY,
IS I DO HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY,
WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE PANDEMIC.
I WAS ON THE INPATIENT WARDS IN
THE SPRING TAKING CARE OF COVID
PATIENTS, SENDING THEM TO THE
ICU.
I HAD PATIENTS WHO DIED OF
COVID.
I HAD COLLEAGUES WITH COVID.
THERE'S NO ONE IN OUR CITY
UNTOUCHED BY COVID.
MANY OF OUR STAFF HAD COVID AND
MANY, MANY, MANY OF US, OF
COURSE, HAVE LOST LOVED ONES
FROM COVID.
THIS IS A REAL, URGENT AND
CURRENT PROBLEM.
SO THE DILEMMA I HAVE IS I DO
HAVE THIS SENSE OF URGENCY, SO
PART OF ME DOES FEEL LIKE, WAKE
UP, BUT PART OF ME ALSO FEELS
LIKE THAT MESSAGING -- I MEAN,
YOU HAVE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR
MESSAGE.
I'M NOT NEUTRAL ABOUT THIS, BUT
I ALSO THINK THAT THE KEY PIECE
IS RESPECTS AND EVERYONE THINK.
I TALK TO INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS
AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
OTHER SETTINGS IS MY JOURNEY.
I THINK ALL OF US ARE UNDERGOING
A JOURNEY.
SOME OF US, THE JOURNEY IS REACH
SHORE.
MY MOTHER EVERY DAY WAS LIKE,
WHEN AM I GETTING THE VACCINE?
SHE'S 86 YEARS OLD.
IT WAS HARD TO GET HER A JACKSON
BECAUSE OF THIS CRAZY ROLLOUT.
BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE STILL ON
THEIR JOURNEY.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING ISSUES
ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF VACCINE
ACCEPTANCE IS THIS IS NOT ONLY
AN ISSUE FOR MINORITY
POPULATIONS.
IN FACT, THE BIGGEST VACCINE
HESITANCY GROUP IN THE COUNTRY
IS REPUBLICANS, RURAL PEOPLE.
A LOT OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THAT
SHOCKED ME THAT HEALTH CARE
WORKERS WHO HAD BEEN ON THE
FRONT LINES WERE STILL
RELUCTANT.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPONENTS
TO THIS AROUND PARTISANSHIP,
DISINFORMATION, FEAR.
I THINK THE REASONS DIFFER BY
THE GROUP.
FOR MINORITY PEOPLE, A LOT OF
THIS IS AROUND IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY COMPLETE VACCINE
REJECTION.
IT'S VACCINE HESITANCY, IT
REALLY IS.
MOST PEOPLE ARE IN THE WAIT-AND
SEE MODE.
I FEEL LIKE THE OTHER DILEMMA
FOR ME, THOUGH, IS I'M HAVING
PATIENTS EVERY DAY GETTING
DIAGNOSED WITH COVID.
IT'S NOT OVER.
SO SIMULTANEOUS WITH MY DESIRE
TO ACCOMPANY THEM ON THEIR
JOURNEY IS THIS FEAR, BECAUSE I
DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO
THEM.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> TO KIND OF ROUND OUT YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
HEARING, WHAT I'M HEARING FROM
PEOPLE BHOF WHO HAVE LISTENED T
HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH
SUSANNA IS, WOW I JUST SPENT AN
HOUR OR MORE WITH A DOCTOR, A
DOCTOR WHO LOOKS LIKE ME, A
DOCTOR WHO LISTENED AND BEHAVED
IN A WAY THAT I'VE NEVER
EXPERIENCED A DOCTOR BEFORE.
THE SESSIONS ARE ABOUT AN HOUR
OR MORE.
SHE'S TAKING QUESTIONS AND THE
QUESTIONS ARE FAR-REACHING AND
INTERESTING.
THEY'RE SITTING THERE IN HER
COMPANY.
THAT HAS MATTERED A TON TO
PEOPLE IN THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE
RECEIVED ABOUT THE SESSIONS SHE
HAS LED.
>> MARCELLA, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
FINISH YOUR THOUGHT.
>> ONE OTHER THOUGHT.
WHEN YOU'RE WITH A PATIENT IN A
ROOM, IT DOES TAKE TIME ONE ON
ONE.
I'VE TAKEN SOMETIMES AN HOUR.
I HAVE A PATIENT WHO I MET WITH
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHO I'VE HAD
AS A PATIENT FOR A LONG TIME.
IT TOOK ME LIKE 15 YEARS TO
CONVINCE HER TO GET A FLU SHOT.
FINALLY I TOLD HER THIS WAS LIKE
MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
BUT I SPENT OVER AN HOUR TALKING
WITH HER AND HER SON.
LUCKILY I HAD THE TIME THAT DAY
AND WE TALKED FOR A REALLY LONG
TIME AND SHE TOLD ME I AM
SCARED.
I TOLD HER, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU
BIRTHED A CHILD, YOU SURVIVED
CANCER, I KNOW YOU'RE BRAVE, I
KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS.
AND SHE FINALLY SAID YES, BUT
THAT IS A HARD THING TO DO EVERY
DAY FOR HOURS AND HOURS AT A
TIME, BUT THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE
HAVE TO DO ON THE PERSONAL LEVEL
AND THE GROUP LEVEL.
>> MARCELLA, HOW ABOUT YOU?
IN YOUR ORGANIZATION, IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE YOU ALL
DOING TO GET PAST THIS BARRIER
OF HESITANCY?
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE SAYING I'M
JUST NEVER GOING TO TAKE IT, BUT
THERE'S A BIG CHUNK OF FOLKS WHO
ARE SAYING, I DON'T KNOW, OR
LET'S LET SOMEBODY GO FIRST FOR
A WHILE AND I'LL SEE HOW IT ALL
WORKS OUT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN YOUR
COMMUNITY AND IS IT EFFECTIVE?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY SUSANNA I
LOVE THIS FRAMING OF THE
JOURNEY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT
IS.
HOPEFULLY FOR COVID IT WON'T
TAKE 15 YEARS, BUT RESPECTING
WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON THAT PATH IS
ESSENTIAL BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING
TO, AGAIN, HELP PEOPLE MAKE
INFORMED DECISIONS, UNDERSTAND
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE
DECISIONS.
AT BROOKLYN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF
A GRANT MAKING PROCESS WHERE
WE'VE PUT A CALLOUT TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE ON THE
FRONT LINE VERY MUCH IN THE WAY
DAVON DESCRIBES.
PEOPLE ARE COMING WITH THESE
QUESTIONS, PEOPLE ARE COMING
WITH THESE POINTS OF CONFUSION
AND UNCERTAINTY.
A LOT OF TIMES COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS KNOW THEY ARE THE
BEST MESSENGER, BUT THEY MAY NOT
HAVE THE MESSAGE.
THEY ARE NOT MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS.
ON THE ONE HAND THEY KNOW THEY
HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE TO PLAY,
BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THEY ARE NOT
NECESSARILY THE BEST EQUIPPED TO
DELIVER THAT MESSAGE AND BE IN
CONVERSATION.
SO UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROLE AS A
BROKER, UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROLE
AS A BRIDGE IS SO CRITICAL
BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE TRUST IN
THE RELATIONSHIP.
IF ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
THE ALEX HOUSE PROJECT, IF THEY
BRING IN A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION, THEIR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE GOING TO LISTEN, BE
PRESENT AND PARTICIPATE.
IT'S ABOUT HOW DO YOU BRING IN
THAT RESOURCE, HOW DO YOU ENGAGE
IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS WHERE
PEOPLE ARE ON THE JOURNEY?
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF AWARDING
ABOUT 25 GRANTS TO DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT
TO DO THAT WORK OF OUTREACH,
ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.
IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHERE
THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE.
THEY MAY BE AT THE POINT WHERE
THEY ARE STILL VERY HESITANT AND
THEY WANT TO HAVE THOSE IN-DEPTH
CONVERSATIONS.
HOW DO YOU CREATE THAT
ENVIRONMENT WHERE THAT CAN TAKE
PLACE?
YOU ALSO MAY HAVE PEOPLE LIKE
SUSANNA'S MOTHER WHO'S LIKE,
HELLO, I'M READY, BUT YOU HAVE
THIS MASSIVE ISSUE OF
NAVIGATION.
HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THIS SYSTEM
THAT SAYS IT'S DESIGNED TO BE
ACCE
ACCESSIBLE, BUT THERE ARE
ROADBLOCKS LEFT AND RIGHT.
YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGAGED
IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL
SERVICES AND MAKING APPOINTMENTS
IN THE MEDICAL SYSTEM FOR OTHER
REASONS.
AS A FOUNDATION, OUR ROLE IS TO
SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS
THROUGH SUPPORTING THESE STRONG
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE BEST POSITIONED TO DO THIS
WORK.
>> SUSANNA, JUMP IN.
>> WE FEEL THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT THAT PHILANTHROPY IS
INVOLVED, THESE PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDICAL
INSTITUTIONS AND MEDICAL
PROVIDERS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING NEAR
PRESBYTERIAN AND CORNELL AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS
CONVENED A GROUP OF PROVIDERS,
SOME OF WHOM ARE MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
WHICH IS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
PHYSICIAN GROUP AND THE NATIONAL
HISPANIC PHYSICIAN GROUP TO TRY
TO RAMP UP PROVIDER INVOLVEMENT
AND PROVIDER INFORMING DOH ABOUT
WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT
WORKING ON THE GROUND.
THE ARTICLE THAT DAVON AND I
WROTE, AND MAYBE YOU COULD TALK
ABOUT THAT DAVON --
>> WE HAVE A MINUTE OR SO LEFT.
>> THE NEED FOR PUBLIC
INVESTMENT.
DAVON, IF YOU COULD JUST MENTION
THAT.
>> DAVON, YOU'VE GOT ABOUT A
MEN.
I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR
MESSAGE.
>> WE FEEL THAT IT DOES NEED
THAT INVESTMENT JUST LIKE THE
MORE RECENT EXAMPLE IS WHAT WE
DID WITH THE SECENSUS.
AT A TIME WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A PANDEMIC, SO MUCH WAS OUT
THERE.
WE SAW FOLKS WHO LOOK LIKE US
TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE CENSUS.
WHO'S THE AMBASSADOR FOR
VACCINATIONS?
WHERE'S THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN?
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
CITY, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
REALLY INVEST IN THIS TO REALLY
GET TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO
NEED IT.
>> WE COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT
THIS.
YOU'RE ALL DOING MARVELOUS WORK
ALONG WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES DOING
MARVELOUS WORK GETTING THE
MESSAGE OUT TO THE PEOPLE IN THE
WAY THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE
WORK YOU'RE DOING AND FOR
SPENDING TIME WITH US HERE.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
YOU ALL STAY WELL AND KEEP UP
THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> TAKE CARE NOW.
♪
>>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY --
SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III,
SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA
PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT
ANTI-SEMITISM.
THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN
GANZ COONEY FUND.
BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ,
BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.
THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION
AND BY --
JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND
JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP
LITTLE MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND
JOSH WESTON, AND THE ROBERT C.
AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.
THE JPB FOUNDATION.
♪
