Watch: How Bay Area Organizations Are Responding to COVID-19 With Inclusive Health Programs

Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other communities of color have been some of the hardest hit by COVID-19,  reinforcing long-standing health inequities. But, community-based organizations are providing inclusive, responsive health services that have supported communities throughout the pandemic.

Ultimately, they’ve created a lasting model for accessible and equitable community health and wellness.

Based in San Francisco, California, the Rafiki Coalition has used its decades of experience delivering health and wellness services to the city’s Black and African American communities to respond to the pandemic. Rafiki is supporting people most impacted by COVID-19, connecting them with the services they need, and expanding access to essential needs, such as mental health resources.

The Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council (BACHAC) is an organization committed to increasing awareness and reducing the debilitating effects of health concerns that disproportionately affect communities of color. To help  ensure equitable access to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, BACHAC joined Umoja Health, a coalition of community and county public members, various organizations and healthcare providers working to increase access to community-based COVID-19 health programs in the East Bay and in San Mateo County.

Watch the video to see how the Rafiki Coalition and BACHAC are responding to COVID-19.

Want To Learn More?

Listen to a special conversation between Dr. Monique LeSarre, executive director of the Rafiki Coalition, and Lisa Tealer, executive director of BACHAC, where they discuss the pandemic and how community-informed and -led wellness programs ensure equitable access to essential health care and support.