Join us for:
Improving African Immigrant Health Series
Part II: A Photovoice Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on African Immigrants Living in New England
Date & Time:
Wednesday, September 29, 1-2:30 EST
Description:
African immigrants have been uniquely affected by the coronavirus crisis. Social, cultural, and systemic factors place African immigrants at greater risk of both acquiring coronavirus and experiencing severe symptoms or death related to COVID-19. However, to date, information is not being systematically collected and translated to support the real-time development of effective, culturally, and linguistically appropriate COVID-19 interventions. Sauti is a photovoice project conducted to document challenges experienced by African immigrants during the pandemic and capture effective coping and support mechanisms used by African immigrants living in New England. This webinar will present recommendations for healthcare providers and researchers to improve African immigrants’ engagement in COVID-19 prevention, treatment, and care.
Confirmed Speakers: *subject to change
Chioma Nnaji, Organization- Multicultural AIDS Coalition (MAC)
Chioma Nnaji, MEd, MPH is a community health worker and organizer with more than 20 years in the fields of HIV/AIDS, sexual health, equity, racial justice, and immigrant health. Currently, she is a Senior Program Director at the Multicultural AIDS Coalition (MAC) in Boston where she leads work in research, capacity building trainings and community mobilization. Specifically, she founded and currently directs the Africans For Improved Access (AFIA) Program – an HIV/STI outreach, screening, and navigation program engaging Black immigrants in Massachusetts. Her ongoing organizing with African immigrant communities has established a national voice advocating for the community and well-respected efforts in service delivery, research, and civic engagement. As a trained and experienced facilitator, she consults with organizations and communities on ways to incorporate anti-racist approaches and community-engaged processes in work addressing health inequities. This includes needs assessments, gap analysis, strategic direction, and action planning. She is constantly seeking innovative ways to bring people together, to think differently about problems, and to challenge the status quo. Ms. Nnaji is #unbought #unbossed #unapologetic in her passion to bring the voice and needs of marginalized communities to the table of health policy, research, and service delivery in a way that utilizes community assets and respects cultural values. Ms. Nnaji has a Master’s degree in Public Health – International Health from Boston University and a Master’s degree in Education – Curriculum & Instruction from Boston College. She is currently ABD at the University of Boston, School for Global Inclusion and Social Development, and a fellow with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Leaders program.
Agatha O. Adigwe, Organization- Multicultural AIDS Coalition (MAC)
Agatha is an African immigrant from Nigeria and a public health professional in the Non-profit space for about five years now. Her work focuses on African immigrant health and equity in education for African children. Currently, she facilitates capacity-building training and coordinates regional and national collaborative research projects on African immigrant health as program coordinator at Multicultural AIDS Coalition (MAC) in Boston. In this capacity, she works with community-based organizations, researchers, cultural brokers, health service providers, and state departments that represent the health landscape of African immigrant communities in the US. In addition to her work at MAC, Agatha volunteers for other non-profit organizations like the African Community Center in Lowell, NaijaGirlsSTEM, and Sharing Life Africa.
Inza Ouattara, Organization: Office of Maine Refugee Services, Catholic Charities Maine
With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, a Master of Public Policy and Management, and as a Licensed Social Worker, Dr. Ouattara currently works as the State of Maine Refugee Health Coordinator. Dr. Ouattara has 21 years of experience working with refugees and immigrants in Africa and in the United States. In his current position, Dr. Ouattara oversees the domestic medical screening of refugees, asylees, and other ORR eligible populations in Maine. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Southern New Hampshire University teaching Sociocultural Perspective.
Moderator: Al Richmond, MSW, Executive Director Community-Campus Partnerships for Health
Below is the recording of the event: