Youth Projects

 

Share to help Young People Stay Safe!

The following videos were created by DanSan Creative to spread the message of this campaign.

 

Mask Up. Back Up. Vax Up.

Historical Distrust and Vaccines

Verna Thornton, M.D. has a conversation with Dr. Olihe Okoro about the following questions:

  • What are historical reasons for distrust of the medical system? (0:05​)

  • What do you say to people who are skeptical of the vaccine? (2:09​)

  • Will you be taking the vaccine? (6:14​)

 

Understanding Vaccines in a Pandemic

Dr. Glenn Simmons, Jr. has a conversation with Dr. Olihe Okoro about the following topics:

  • How do vaccines work? (0:05​)

  • Do vaccines give you the virus? (1:09​)

  • Should I still get the vaccine if I already had Covid? (2:32​)

  • Are there side-effects of the vaccine? (3:07​)

  • Why are two shots required? (4:10​)

  • Is masking and social-distancing still needed? (6:02​)

 

The Pandemic and Mental Health

A Conversation with Charles Fai, M.A. and Dr. Olihe Okoro cover the following topics:

  • What is the impact of the pandemic on mental health? (0:05​)

  • How can we support the mental health of teenagers? (2:20​)

  • What are other strategies for self-care? (4:39​)

  • What are ways to support elders and final thoughts? (6:29​)

 

African Heritage Community Covid-19 Needs Assessment

The Covid-19 Needs Assessment Project

Under the leadership of Olihe Okoro, PhD, and Janet Kennedy, CEO of Healthy Alliances Matter LLC Company with funding from Minnesota Department of Health and multiple community organizations, a collaborative formed May 2020 to assess the needs of the Northland African Heritage community to increase community understanding and engagement around COVID-19 vaccines, testing, case interviews, contact tracing, and other COVID-19 concerns and to facilitate partnerships among community-based organizations and healthcare systems, in order to support COVID-19 prevention efforts for the African Heritage community.*

The COVID-19 Needs Assessment project utilized Community Research Consultants from the African Heritage community to assist with community-based research to assess pandemic-related needs across differences in age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Some of the strategies included conducting a survey, interviews and focus groups with area African Heritage community members.