Description:

Structural Racism & COVID-19: Staying True to Principles of Engagement & Equity in Community-Engaged Research Partnerships during Two Health Crises

The Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) at Northwestern University supports and promotes community-engaged research partnerships. While ARCC began this document and virtual discussions related to COVID-19, we recognize that police violence, racial inequities in Covid-19, and other forms of structural racism are concurrent and compounding health crises impacting health and equity in communities. Research projects and partnerships must consider how to adjust in response. We have added this focus to our next Zoom session.

Join our 4th virtual zoom gathering to share and discuss experiences, ideas, and challenges about staying engaged as community-engaged research partnerships. 

Register: https://northwestern.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYscu-grTgoGtVY9oNLNOiKUv6iqsNV_kSU

Discussion Co-Facilitators: Dr. Tiffany McDowell, Director of the Equity Institute at YWCA Evanston/North Shore; ARCC Community Partner Joseph Harrington; and Jen Brown and Ariel Thomas, ARCC. Additional info about facilitators below.

Please submit topics & questions for discussion in advance to ARCC@northwestern.edu 

Open to any interested community and academic partners.

Related Resources: Open Community Document with ideas and resources to support community & academic partners. We added a section in progress (#7) related to structural racism. bit.ly/COVID_ARCC. Another related resource: Racial Equity in Research Engagement Resource Catalog: bit.ly/ARCCequityResources.

For other resources related to community-engaged research, visit our website at www. ARCCOnline.net. or our online resource directory www.ARCCresources.net. 

Discussion Co-Facilitators:

Tiffany McDowell, PhD, Director of the Equity Institute at YWCA Evanston/North Shore: She is a community psychologist, researcher, and thought leader committed to identifying and eliminating systems that push people to the margins of society. She is also Co-Founder of the Chicagoland Equity Network. s co-founder of the Chicagoland Equity Network, where she convened a diverse membership to advance a common equity agenda across Cook County. Tiffany’s passion for social justice and equity drives her approach to ensuring that all voices are valued. Much of her work is focused on building capacity of organizations, community residents, and other stakeholders to develop strategies and action plans toward equity and inclusion.

Joseph Harrington is the Co-Lead for the CAPriCORN Patient & Community Advisory Committee (PCAC) and Project Lead for the PCORI-funded patient engagement project, “Elevating the Patient Voice in Research.” He has worked in education, social services, mental health, healthcare, and public health. He served for six years as an Assistant Commissioner at the Chicago Department of Public Health and retired in 2017 after serving as the State Health Department’s Regional Health Officer for Cook County. He serves on the Board of Directors for CommunityHealth & Alzheimers Association Illinois Chapter. 

Jen Brown, ARCC Director & Co-Founder. Jen was also a 2019 Chicago United for Equity Fellow. 

Ariel Thomas, ARCC Community Engagement Liaison

ARCC and the Equity Institute have been collaborating on a project working to Advance Racial Equity in Community-Engaged Research. 

Questions? Contact ARCC at ARCC@Northwestern.edu