The Greater Flint Taskforce on Racial and Social Equity(Taskforce) was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on African Americans and Latinos.

The taskforce was formed in partnership with the Michigan State University Division of Public Health, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the City of Flint, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton Community Health Network, and Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.

Vision:

Racial equity in the greater Flint community during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mission:

The Greater Flint Taskforce on Racial and Social Equity (Taskforce) is committed to bringing awareness, analysis, and action to the root causes of disparities in order to ensure racial equity within and across organizations and systems to reduce disparities during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Taskforce members and sub-committees commit to supporting individuals and organizations to develop and implement processes to challenge existing patterns of institutional power, jettison the hierarchy of human value, and promote equity.

Goals:

  1. Ensure equitable access, protection, and resource allocation for all residents during the COVID-19 pandemic
  2. Prevent further racial disparities in COVID-19 prevention, testing, treatment/care, and outcomes
  3. Promote equity in post-COVID recovery

Objectives:

Phase One -

  • Identify actionable targets to promote equity during the COVID-19 pandemic,
  • Support policy interventions to identify and prevent further racial COVID-19 disparities,
  • Enact equity-oriented initiatives to improve COVID-19 prevention, screening/testing, intervention, treatment, and recovery; and
  • Support equitable economic sustainment during COVID-19.
  • Promote equity in post-COVID recovery, including:
    • Economic recovery for individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations (e.g., churches)
    • Equitable economic restart initiatives
    • Long-term management of post-COVID health disparities, and
    • Restructuring a society that works for everyone.

Taskforce Members

  • Aurora Sauceda, Latinos United
  • Carma Lewis, Flint Neighborhoods United
  • Christopher Burtley, Nat Burtley Leadership and Racial Equity Fund
  • Clarence Pierce, Hamilton Community Health Network
  • Daniel Moore, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
  • Kent Key, Flint Public Health Youth Academy
  • Kimberly Roberson, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
  • Lawrence Reynolds, City of Flint
  • Leanne Panduren, CFGF Ex-officio
  • Linda Pohly, Esq, Private Firm
  • Nayyirah Shariff, Flint Rising
  • Monica Villareal, Salem Lutheran Church & Michigan United
  • Raquel Thueme, Ruth Mott Foundation
  • Tom Mattiuzzo, Riverside Tabernacle Assembly of God
  • Robert Brown, Neighborhoods Without Borders
  • Tim Herman, Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce