Equity Action Circle provides recommendations for COVID-19 response
The Equity Action Circle, a group of 15 community members representing diverse backgrounds, valuable perspectives and lived experiences, has developed a report with recommendations to advise and guide the next phases of the county’s COVID-19 response. The report includes overarching goals and objectives along with immediate, short-term and long-term recommendations to address community needs related to the pandemic that are also the result of inequities due to centuries of institutional and structural racism.
Ramsey County’s COVID-19 Racial Equity and Community Engagement Response Team (RECERT) formed the Equity Action Circle in spring 2020 to co-develop strategies and solutions in partnership with staff to meet the unmet needs of residents during the COVID-19 response.
In summer 2020, the Equity Action Circle identified five priority areas to address in their recommendations to improve outcomes for racially and ethnically diverse communities during and after the pandemic:
- Family and youth.
- Healthcare.
- Housing.
- Policy and practices.
- Workforce.
In August, the EAC launched sub-committees for each of the priority areas consisting of EAC members, RECERT staff members and additional community members selected by the EAC. Sub-committees requested and reviewed county data and met with county subject matter experts in key areas.
The recommendations were submitted to County Manager Ryan O’Connor and RECERT in October, and the county provided a written memo response recommending next steps in November. Sub-committees began meeting with county leaders and staff late last year to discuss opportunities to implement the recommendations. This work and collaboration will continue into 2021 to advance racial equity and meet community needs during the county’s COVID-19 response.