Partner Spotlight: Asian Americans United, Detroit Change Initiative, and Vietlead

The Made to Save coalition is in awe and proud of our community partners’ work in helping to get their community vaccinated one conversation at a time. Recently we spoke with three of those partners and recorded our conversations to provide a quick glance at what it’s like to increase vaccine access, equity, and information on the ground.

Asian Americans United

Wei Chen, the Civic Engagement Coordinator of Asian Americans United, emphasizes the importance of community involvement for immigrants during COVID-19. The arrival of the pandemic came with two threats: battles with health and surges in anti-Asian violence. Asian Americans United stepped up to make sure community members had access to information in their own language, as well as a community to speak to when times were tough.

To get more information about Asian Americans United click here.

Detroit Change Initiative

“We are the lifeblood of America.” This is Detroit Change Initiative’s founder, Norman Clements’ message to the Black community. This is why getting vaccinated is so important.

Norman admits that when it came to the vaccine, “he just didn’t know.” He mentions that conversations surrounding health inequity in the African-American community were abundant in Detroit Change Initiative’s work, and that the loss of a dear friend pushed him to receive the vaccine. He encourages everyone to have conversations with their loved ones about getting vaccinated to prevent even more heartache.

For more about Detroit Change Initiative visit their website here.

Vietlead

“How can we work in solidarity to support and uplift each other?” This is the question Emily Tran, Vietlead’s health team manager, asked as she watched COVID-19 disproportionately affect communities of color in Philadelphia, PA and South New Jersey. Vietlead’s response was to set up an accessible vaccine clinic in their own office, welcoming vulnerable populations in Philadelphia to quickly and effectively get vaccinated.

After seeing much of the loss of elders that the Southeast Asian community suffered during the pandemic, Emily and many of the organizers at Vietlead were on a mission to prevent further losses— and to make sure the community they serve truly had access. After the clinic ended, Emily realized that “there’s a way to do this that is caring and doesn’t have to be bureaucratic.”

For out more about Vietlead’s work here.