Shirley's Kitchen Cabinet conducted a survey to identify the top issues impacting Black women in the Kansas City area. Our efforts are driven by the data collected. We leverage organizing to move policy and policy leaders to address these issues.The COVID-19 guide will serve as a resource information guide to identify how the resultsof COVID-19 will impact black women.
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Economic Prosperity | Health and Vitality | Education | Violence
COVID Economic Prosperity
Financial security, jobs, entrepreneurship and the resources to create generational wealth
for Black women and their families. Economists said the COVID 19 economic impact is having devastating effects to nearly every middle-to-low income Black American because of systemic racial disparities in education, access to healthcare and jobs.The Center for American Progress proposed nine measures federal, state and local lawmakers can take to offset the
economic impacts of COVID-19.
COVID Health and Vitality
Physical, mental and spiritual health and wellness so that Black women are in the best shape to step in and lead. However, the pandemic hitting Black Americans harderis not
an isolated incident. There is a long history in our country of Black Americans facing challenges related to socioeconomic status, education and access to health care.
Where someone lives can directly impact their overall health and life expectancy during "normal" times, so in a situation like a pandemic, this issue is multiplied – particularly for higher-risk communities.Social determinants of health play a significant role in the higher rates of common chronic conditions such as asthma, high blood pressureand diabetes in African Americans, as well as fatal heart disease. Not only is COVID-19 another example of a health issue being seen in this community more frequently than other racial and ethnic groups, but these social determinants and underlying health conditions also make individuals more susceptible to the potentially fatal impact of COVID-19.
COVID Education
Access to quality education at every stage in life for Black women and their families.
Early on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site did not educate
the public regarding the COVID-19 racial breakdown. As a result, on April 7, 2020. asked the CDC to make racial data on coronavirus testing, cases,
hospitalizations and fatalities publicly available.
Eradicating Violence during COVID
Eradication of the many forms of violence - domestic violence, police brutality, physical and psychological violence - Black women and girls experience. For
people who are experiencing domestic violence,mandatory lockdowns to curb
the spread of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the new coronavirus) have
trapped them in their homes with their abusers, isolated from the people
and the resources that could help them.
Mission
Shirley's Kitchen Cabinet is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices and power of Black women through education and advocacy, so they can be effective advocates for the issues that matter to them and the communities they serve.