An Equity Response to COVID-19 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: The Development and Work of the Black Equity Coalition

Abstract

From the onset of the pandemic in the United States, racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes have been evident. In April 2020, several events prompted a concerned group of colleagues to form the Black Equity Coalition (BEC), a Black-led coalition in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which brings together professionals from multiple sectors who aim to ensure an equitable response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several significant milestones have been achieved, and this article describes the development, functioning, and outcomes of the Coalition in the first 15 months of operation (April 2020-June 2021). COVID-19 was the reason for such an unprecedented effort, but this BEC infrastructure will be needed long after COVID-19 is controlled. In addition to short-term activities and reactive measures to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 in Black populations, the BEC is serving as a crucial link between government, health care stakeholders, and communities to produce long-term systemic change.

Keywords: Black/African American; COVID-19; community; health equity; social determinants of health.

Figure 1

The Hub and Spokes—Black Equity Coalition (BEC) Working Groups Note. FQHC = Federally Qualified Health Center; HBCU = Historically Black Colleges and Universities; PPE = Personal Protective Equipment.

Figure 2

Contextual Timeline and BEC Milestones Note. BEC = Black Equity Coalition; CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; FQHCs = Federally Qualified Health Centers; ACHD = Allegheny County Health Department.