FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2021
Contact:
Rachel Noerdlinger, rnoerdlinger@mercuryllc.com
Amaris Cockfield, acockfield@mercuryllc.com
NEW YORK COVID VACCINE TASK FORCE FOR VACCINE EQUITY AND EDUCATION MEMBER JENNIFER JONES AUSTIN RECEIVES VACCINE & PUSHES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE ACCESS
New York, NY – On February 16th, Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of FPWA and Member of the COVID-19 Task Force for Vaccine Equity and Education in New York, received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 Taskforce for Equity and Education works to ensure that the vaccine is accessible to Black New Yorkers and addresses concerns in Black communities about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. New York has been the epicenter of the crisis, and health care inequity is making access to immunization disproportionate.
“As a Black woman with underlying health challenges, I know firsthand how important it is for the Black community to access the COVID-19 vaccine. Throughout this pandemic, communities of color suffered tremendously due to a lack of medical access and greater exposure to the virus because of their occupation or crowded living conditions. I took the vaccine to address the skepticism displayed by my community and to help save lives.” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of FPWA.
Under the leadership of Austin, the task force is preparing to release a tool kit for community members, seniors, and those in communities of color lacking information or are ambivalent about the vaccine. The toolkit will serve as a defense in addressing skepticism by providing accurate and accessible information. The information provided in the toolkit will provide Black New Yorkers with the basics about the virus and the tools available to them to combat it.
Task Force Members include:
- Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice Chairman, NAACP Board of Directors
- Kyle Bragg, President, SEIU 32BJ
- Steve M. Cohen, Former Secretary to Gov. Andrew Cuomo
- Hazel Dukes, President, NAACP New York State Conference
- Dr. Debra Furr-Holden, Epidemiologist, Michigan State University
- Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director, FPWA
- Marc Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
- Arva Rice, President and CEO, New York Urban League
- Dr. Wayne J. Riley, President, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Rev. Al Sharpton, CEO and Founder, National Action Network (NAN)
- Senator Nina Turner, Founder, Amare Public Affairs
- Camille Joseph-Goldman, Vice President for Government Affairs, Charter
- Melva Miller, CEO, Association for a Better New York (ABNY)
About FPWA
FPWA is an anti-poverty policy and advocacy organization committed to advancing economic opportunity and upward mobility for low-income New Yorkers. Having a prominent New York presence for nearly 100 years, FPWA has long served New York City’s social service sector, providing grants to help individuals and families meet their basic needs, and advocating for fair public policies on behalf of people in need and the agencies that serve them. FPWA’s member network of 170 human-service and faith-based organizations reach more than 1.5 million people in New York’s communities each year. Join us at fpwa.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
