Multiple reports have revealed the disproportionate negative impacts of the Covid-19 virus on Black communities from many different angles, among them being poor outcomes in both physical and mental health as a result of the pandemic.
“People haven’t interacted with people in a long time so there’s just an energy,” said Floydeen Charles-Fridal, Executive Director of Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CAFCAN).
“The hesitation is still very much present in our community… and it’s not without reason. That’s why we have to create an appropriate space for the people who are interested,” she said.
Appropriate in this context included one long line, classic tunes, friendly staff, and Caribbean classics like patties and soup to tie it all together. It was a serious community event and the coordinating team treated it as such.
“What people don’t understand about community engagement is you’ve got to meet people where they are… so there’s certain things you have to do. If we talk about African and Caribbean people, we are community people, so you’ve got to do as much as you can to bring that natural way of gathering into a space. People are coming in nervous and doubtful… You don’t want to contribute to that anxiety,” said Charles-Fridal.
Vaccine hesitation in Black communities has a long history that is steeped in medical violence, experimentation, and exclusion from western healthcare systems. Progressive leadership, both within community systems and within the western healthcare system, honour and understand this history, and considered this context when creating the space.
The multi-disciplinary team of doctors, policy professionals, and community leadership, came together to make the case for the need to prioritize, and adequately resource the coordination and execution of this event. The team was successful in their advocacy, and the experience of the day’s event confirmed the victory.