COVID-19 is having a disproportionately large impact on Washtenaw County’s African American community.
African Americans make up 12 percent of the county’s entire population, but they account for 43 percent of its confirmed coronavirus cases.
To help address the underlying causes of this disparity, Washtenaw County is launching a new COVID-19 task force for people of color.
It’s being led by the county’s Racial Equity Officer, Alize Asberry Payne, and will consist of community leaders, government officials, and representatives from local businesses and non-profit organizations.
Payne says their goal is to ensure people of color “have a seat at the decision-making table” and are not be marginalized as the county refines its strategy for dealing with COVID-19.
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— Taylor Pinson is a writer/reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him studio@wemu.org
