PACT Quarterly Newsletter: I Can't Breathe
Your quarterly update on what's going on in your neighborhood.
Message from Autumn Glover, President
I. CAN’T. BREATHE.
As I sit here with my 3-year old daughter – I cry for my baby. My tears fall for mothers who have lost their children to police violence and hope the world will be different for her. The pain our community is feeling is real while also trying to think through next steps and how we get people to not only express empathy but get to work with us.
I am inspired when I see the resilience and determination of our people – and those in the community who stand with us – I know change is a coming.
The core of our work at PACT is based in the value of life. The people who live, work, worship and love the Near East Side have value, matter to us and inspire our work. Because of this, we seek to disrupt intergenerational cycles of poverty enabled by racist policies and unfair practices as it relates to housing, education, economic opportunity, and health. The events of today, as we battle the Covid-19 pandemic, the brutal murder of black men at the hands of police, and centuries of racism, we see the impacts on Black people. This is a direct result of the unjust systems that have a direct correlation to the chronic conditions of our people and many of our communities are exposed to.
WE ARE TIRED. Yet, we must keep moving forward.
We also see the spirit of resiliency through the courageous peaceful protesters who are asking for us to hear them, to listen, to act . Because I am wife, a mother and a community servant, I am choosing to lean into hope. PACT joins Columbus City Council, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the Columbus Urban League, the Columbus NAACP, Wexner Medical Center and other partners to underscore that racism is a public health crisis. We MUST take immediate action to drive change.
Some people are posting on social media. Some are people are protesting. Some are donating silently. Some are educating themselves. Some are having tough conversations with family and friends. A revolution has a lane for everyone – be kind to yourself and others who are driving in the same direction. Just keep your foot on the gas.
Autumn Glover,
President
Celebrating all Columbus City School 2020 Graduates
PACT is proud of our Columbus City High School 2020 graduates and celebrate their accomplishments.
Covid-19 and the Digital Divide
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to limit physical interactions in order to mitigate the spread of disease in our communities. This required us to quickly adapt and create a digital society where we remain interconnected through the use of internet services. While this was an uncomfortable but manageable transition for some, a large number of others were not able to access these services. As jobs, education, and other responsibilities moved online, families found themselves unable to complete these duties. In fact, about one-third of low-income families don’t have high-speed access to the internet in their homes.
Internet access is a necessity and should be considered a utility rather than a luxury. PACT has established the Connected Communities Fund to create affordable access to technology and eliminate digital inequalities in our neighborhood. This improvement will create improved health outcomes through access to telehealth services, greater utilization of educational resources, and increased value to neighborhood developments, along with countless other positive effects. We will begin fundraising for this fund on June 10 as part of the Columbus Foundation’s Big Give. Look for more details, on how you can donate to support this effort.
PACT is launching the Connected Communities Fund on June 10 as part of Columbus Foundations’ Big 25-hour Big Give online giving event. Our Connected Communities Fund will help address the digital divide in our community by helping us purchase technology tools for students and families on the Near East Side. We ask that you pledge your financial support by donating through the Columbus Foundation June 10 beginning at 10 a.m. through June 11 until 11 a.m.
The Big Give is a campaign to help provide critical financial support to area nonprofit organizations such as PACT. The Columbus Foundation, its family of donors, and community and corporate partners have donated a $1 million+ to increase the funding support to qualified non- profits. Donations received during The Big Give will be boosted by the bonus pool, which means your dollars will go further and be magnified to help our funds grow even more. Please mark your calendars for the Big Give June 10 – June 11 and support PACT. Learn more here.
Buy Black – Every Day, Especially on Thursdays
Small business is the cornerstone of our community and is important to the health and wealth of the Near East Side. As we struggle with Covid-19 guidelines and orders, the impact to black and brown business has been significant. PACT encourages our community to support our small business in our community and Columbus. IN addition, we are promoting #BuyBlackThursdays, an action-oriented expression of our commitment to supporting small and minority-owned businesses. Please do your part and support these businesses on #buybackThursdays and beyond.
Wexner Medical Center Drives Mask Distribution
PACT continues to be actively engaged in community activities and events that make a difference to the residents of the Near East Side. Recently, PACT team members assisted The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in distributing 46,000 masks and nearly 10,000 Community Care Kits into the community. We will continue to strive to be a resource for the recovery and resilience of our community.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Offers Free COVID-19 Testing
Wexner Medical Center is offering COVID-19 testing in the northeast Columbus neighborhood.
If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are having symptoms. Testing can help you, your family, your friends and co-workers.
Please call 614-366-6800 to find out if you should be tested. Be sure to say you are calling for community testing.
NO insurance is required at the testing sites, you will be served regardless of your ability to pay.
NO physician referral required. Results are typically available within 72 hours.
Wexner Medical Center Community Testing Center at KIPP Columbus, 2900 Inspire Drive, Columbus, OH 43224. Please call 614-366-6800 before arriving at the testing center.
Start Saving Energy And Help The Community – The Near East Energy Savers Program
Help the Near East Earn up to $35,000 for Energy Efficiency Upgrades, while earning incentives for your family. The neighborhood needs every resident, including renters, to participate in energy efficiency programs provided by AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas now through September 30, 2020 to earn up to $35,000 in grants. The grant funds would be used for a new produce refrigerator at the Ward YMCA as well as to add electricity at the 4 PACT community gardens, along with additional natural gas energy efficiency upgrades within the neighborhood. See the attached flyer for more information.
Near East Side Leadership Academy Supports Community
The 2020 Class of the Near East Side Leadership Academy consists of members from our community, asn is designed to support our community and or drive programs that engage the community. This year’s 2020 class focuses on the following areas:
How can NLA make an impact in our community before our May 7th graduation?
How can NLA properly introduce ourselves to the community as leaders and let them know we are here and present in the community?
How can NLA disrupt the “affects” of the Coronavirus aka “dat rona” in our community?
How can NLA continue to further develop its bond?
Aligned to those areas, NLA has successfully initiated and/or completed multiple events.
Collecting and creating personal sanitary and hygiene packages to give away to those in our community, resulting in the delivery of 50 COVID-19 Care Packages Collection. Items included: Mask, antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorants, women’s pad/tampons, shaving razors, food and toys.
Volunteering at Central Community House – NLA supported Central Community House’s monthly community meal by helping with set-up and clean up, gave away over 40 handmade care packages, and added 30 additional meals from Mazah Mediterranean Eatery through the Cant Stop Columbus “We Feed Columbus” platform in addition to the community dinner.
Supporting small and minority businesses by visiting as a group – this will allow us to not only spend our dollars in our community but also give us a chance to talk and mingle with others in the community:
Upper Cup
Lifestyle Café
Chicago Fish and Chicken
Surprising our friend with a special Curbside Concert for Mrs. Pamela Shields – In light of Ms. Pam total knee replacement it limited her participation with the cohort, but we made a special effort to make sure Ms. Pam was still engaged remotely. We ended our cohort by requesting a concert through the Cant Stop Columbus platform “Curbside Concert” to provide Ms. Pam a concert of respect and appreciation right outside of her door.