On May 15th, 2021, the Towson - Catonsville (MD) Alumni Association of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc. presented its first webinar. The Covid-19 town hall event explored the issues of COV-19 from both clinical and mental health perspectives. It also addressed the concerns and anxiety of the vaccine in minority and underserved communities. During the past year, many communities had seen an unmatched emphasis on mental health issues with the COV-19 virus forcing lockdowns and working from home becoming the norm. The isolation caused by the COV-19 pandemic has intensified, and there are now many more people experiencing mental health issues for the first time. Additionally, minority communities are among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic but have lower rates of vaccination than other groups. As of March 2021, most patients who have received at least one dose of the COVID – 19 vaccine were White (67%), Hispanic (9%), Black (5%) and Asian (2%).
Health care professionals, Shedrick McCall, Ed.D. and Marius Chukwurah, M.D. did an outstanding job of addressing the many issues that Covid – 19 and the vaccine have caused in minority and underserved communities. 96 of the 100 tickets that were available for the event were purchased. And the Associations eventbrite page was viewed over 800 times. The event even attracted attendees from as far away as Europe, Mexico, and Canada. Finally, we hope that the attendees were able to learn the truth about the vaccines and were able to learn that during this pandemic discussing the possibility of mental health issues with love ones is important and necessary.
Moderator:
Ian Valines
Words of Encouragement:
Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc. Eastern Province Polemarch - Charles E. Exum Jr.
Panelists:
Shedrick McCall, Ed.D.
Marius Chukwurah, M.D.
Social Action Committee:
Vernon Fisher
Lamont Norwood