Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis

During the summer of 2020, both the Cleveland City Council and the County Council of Cuyahoga County passed resolutions declaring racism a public health crisis and established citizen task forces to recommend strategies, policies, and programs to implement at the city and county levels to advance racial equity, particularly within the areas of healthcare, criminal justice, access to healthy foods, housing, economic opportunities, transportation, education, and safe places to be active. As part of the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning’s (CCEL) February spotlight on “Advocacy” as a form of civic engagement that contributes to social change, the CCEL student Executive Council has convened a virtual panel discussion of changemakers from Cuyahoga County who were influential in advocating for the passage of these resolutions and who serve on the citizen task forces to share more about the resolutions and changes they would like to see implemented.

Panelists include:

• Margaret Mitchell - President & CEO of YWCA Greater Cleveland
• Bernie Kerrigan - Executive Director at First Year Cleveland

Please check your CampusGroups reminder email that you’ll receive after registering for the Zoom connection details. Funding for this event is made possible through the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at CWRU to continue Dr. King’s commitment to social justice.