On Friday, March 20th at 9:00 am, the Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity, convened by the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA), will be announcing a short list of state policy priorities that will mitigate the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on communities already experiencing marginalization and discrimination. Co-chairs Dr. Sandro Galea, Dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, and Cheryl Bartlett, CEO of the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, will make remarks, along with MPHA Executive Director Carlene Pavlos, and call for an agenda for action.
Emergency Task Force To Call for Immediate Action from Governor Baker, Attorney General Healey, and the Legislature to Address Equity in the Face of Epidemic
WHEN and WHERE:
Friday, March 20, 2020
9:00am via Zoom
Register at https://tinyurl.com/COVID19-Equity-PressConf
WHAT:
The Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity will call for urgent action from Governor Baker, Attorney General Healey, and the Legislature on four state policy priorities to address the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus outbreak on communities already experiencing marginalization, including low-wage workers, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
The Task Force, convened by the MA Public Health Association on March 17th, is calling on Governor Baker, Attorney General Healey & the Legislature:
Ensure Immigrants Have Safe Access to Testing & Treatment
Ensure Everyone Has Access to Safe Quarantine
Pass Emergency Paid Sick Time
Enact a Moratorium on Evictions, Foreclosures & Termination of Public Benefits
86 organizations have endorsed the call to action, including leading civil rights, grassroots, public health, medical, labor, and social service organizations.
WHO:
Speakers will include:
Carlene Pavlos, Executive Director, Massachusetts Public Health Association
Sandro Galea, Co-Chair, Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity; Dean, Boston University School of Public Health
Cheryl Bartlett, Co-Chair, Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus & Equity; CEO, Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, former commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Karen Chen, Executive Director, Chinese Progressive Association
Joyce Tavon, Director of Programs & Planning, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance
Pablo Ruiz, Deputy Director, SEIU State Council & Co-Chair of Raise Up Massachusetts Grassroots Committee
Lisa Owens, Executive Director, City Life/Vida Urbana
Endorsers of the call to action include:
1199SEIU MA
1Shot Couriers Inc.
About Fresh
ACLU of MA
Action for Boston Community Development
Allston Brighton Health Collaborative
American Federation of Teachers MA
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
Boston Center for Independent Living
Boston University School of Public Health
Brazilian Worker Center Inc.
Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation
Central West Justice Center
Children's HealthWatch
Chinese Progressive Association
Citizens' Housing and Planning Association
Clean Plate Law
Coalition for Social Justice
Collaborative for Educational Services
Conservation Law Foundation
DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement
Environmental League of MA
Fallon Health
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization
Greater Lowell Health Alliance of CHNA 10
Greater New Bedford Community Health Center
Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Health Care For All
Health Leads
Health Resources in Action
Healthcare & Human Service Consulting Group
Hildreth Institute
Homes for Families
Jamaica Plain Progressives
Jane Doe Inc., the MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
Jetpac
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Lawrence CommunityWorks
Lawyers for Civil Rights
MA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
MA Association for Community Action
MA Association of Community Development Corporations
MA Association of Community Health Workers
MA Association of Health Boards
MA Budget and Policy Center
MA Coalition for the Homeless
MA Communities Action Network
MA Councils on Aging
MA Food System Collaborative
MA Health & Hospital Association
MA Housing & Shelter Alliance
MA Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
MA Jobs with Justice
MA Law Reform Institute
MA League of Community Health Centers
MA Public Health Association
MA Teachers Association
MA Voter Table
MassCOSH (MA Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health)
Material Aid and Advocacy Program
Mill City Grows
MLPB (f/k/a Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston)
National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter
Neighbor to Neighbor MA
New England United 4 Justice
One Fair Wage
Progressive MA
Project Bread
Public Health Institute of Western MA
SEIU 888
SEIU 32BJ
SEIU Local 509
Sierra Club MA
Stavros Center for Independent Living
Sustainable CAPE - Center for Agricultural Preservation & Education
The Food Bank of Western MA
The Latino Health Insurance Program, Inc.
The Open Door
Three Pyramids Minority Coalition
Toxics Action Center
TSNE
Tufts Health Plan
Western MA Health Equity Network
Western MA Network to End Homelessness
Worcester County Food Bank, Inc
Worcester Interfaith