Courageous Conversations
(COVID-19 Vaccine: You Decide)

Courageous Conversations (COVID-19 Vaccine: You Decide) with B. Lyte and Power 2 the Poetry. (Featured image)
 
 

Courageous Conversations (COVID-19 Vaccine? You Decide!) is a bold new 5-part ZOOM talk show series for our Black communities and allies to get info and talk about the COVID-19 vaccine.

About the Courageous Conversations (COVID-19 Vaccine: You Decide) Series

Here are more details about Courageous Conversations (COVID-19 Vaccine: You Decide). We’ve also got a printable PDF here and a folder with high-resolution versions of our event graphics here, just in case.

  • Each Conversation will be a 60-minute discussion with Q&A on vaccine-related topics, such as safety measures, current information, questions, vaccine hesitancy, COVID-19 prevention, education, and recovery.

  • We will bring in trusted leaders and members of our Black communities as our special guests, such as doctors, nurses, pastors, teachers, politicians, activists, business owners, government officials, students, coaches, athletes, and artists.

  • We will also feature visual artists and performers to showcase diverse local voices and perspectives on how it feels and what it means to live through this pandemic.

  • We seek to support sharing our perspectives and knowledge, we can support and empower those in our Black and African-American communities to make the decision they feel is best for themselves and their loved ones.

Save the dates!

Mark your calendars so you won’t miss any of our Conversations. They’re free and all are welcome. We’ll be posting updates with our upcoming topics, experts, visual artists and performers, and other special guests for Courageous Conversations (COVID-19 Vaccine: You Decide). For future (and past events), see below.

Courageous Conversations | Pierce County & King County COVID-19 Edition

In June, 2021, we launched our first Courageous Conversations via ZOOM to address questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine and the pandemic in general. This five-part, hour-long, weekly talk show series was presented in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health.

Our speakers included leaders in medicine, health care equity, community engagement, and public policy, including Doctors Shaquita Bell, Raymond Lewis, Benjamin Danielson, and George Counts. While all were welcome, we were primarily focused on Black and African American communities in and around the Tacoma and Seattle areas. For our full list of experts and performers — along with the full videos from our series — see below.

Conversation #1

Doctors in the Field: Vaccine Success Stories

Doctors share COVID-19 vaccine success stories from the front lines of the pandemic.

This aired on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm on Zoom

From rough seas in the Bering Straits to community clinics, these MDs have some amazing stories to tell. And they'll answer your questions.

Featuring Music from Tacoma rapper Brandon Marsalis and speakers.

Watch the Video | Doctors in the Field: COVID-19 Vaccine Success Stories

Conversation #2

Caring for Ourselves and Our Communities

How can we prepare for the next crisis?

This aired on Tuesday July 6, 2021 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm on Zoom

COVID-19 hit Black people and other marginalized communities hard. What can we do to build resilience, connect with each other, and ensure we have more resources?

Featuring music from Bry444n, Conscious Creator, and special guests:

  • Tamar Jackson, Director of Community Engagement at Workforce Central.

  • Josh Jordan, Administrative Consultant, Aspiring Decent Human, Life Student, Detail Addict.

Watch the video | Caring for Ourselves & Our Communities (How Can We Prepare for the Next Crisis?)

Conversation #3

Black Experts Answer Your COVID Questions

Ask Doctors, experts & leaders in our Black Communities anything in this live Q&A!

This aired on Tuesday July 13, 2021 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm on Zoom

Featuring musical guest Secret Adventure Sound, and our team of experts:

Paula F. Sardinas, NBPLA, President/CEO of FMS Global Strategies, LLC, a #BIPOC Governmental Affairs lobbying firm, and Purpose Driven Girl, a women's empowerment non-profit. 

Dr. George W. Counts, MD, FIDSA, Professor of Medicine (retired), University of Washington Medicine. Leader and advocate for diversity and gender equality in the field of infectious diseases and 2020 winner of the IDSA’s Walter E. Stamm Mentor Award.

Dr. Benjamin S. Danielson, MD, Physician, advocate for addressing racial inequities in health care and increasing access, Clinical Professor at the Department of Pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine, and former Medical Director of the Seattle Children's Odessa Brown Children's Clinic.

Shellie Willis, U.S. Army Veteran, Senior Director of Workforce Systems Alignment at Workforce Central.

Watch the Video | Black Experts Answer Your COVID Questions

Courageous Conversation #4

How to Talk with Vaccine-Shy Loved Ones

… and how to address their concerns.

This aired on Tuesday July 20, 2021 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm on Zoom

How can we talk with friends, neighbors & family who are reluctant about the COVID-19 vaccine, and how do we address their concerns in a way that's caring, respectful, and constructive?

  • With musical guest Quindrey, Drummer, Electronic Composer, and Educator.

And featured speakers:

Watch the Video: How to Talk with Vaccine-Shy Loved Ones

Conversation #5

COVID-19: Sharing Perspectives

Health Care Workers Share Perspectives on The Pandemic.

Tuesday July 27, 2021 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm on Zoom

Health care workers share their perspectives on the pandemic and COVID-19 Vaccines.

Featuring:

Watch the video: COVID-19 - Perspectives from Health Care WOrkers

Take Our Survey!

Care about coronavirus, COVID-19 vaccines, and our community? Let’s talk! Our survey takes just five minutes of your time and your feedback will help us create more engaging, informative, and useful talk shows.