Check out the videos from Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside

The Jackson County legislature approved $5 million to continue community health initiatives through Our Healthy Eastside Kansas City, based on the success of the coalition’s impact on COVID-19 and community health from its original funding in 2021.

Leaders of Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside, a community health collaborative created to address COVID-19 in underserved neighborhoods, reported the initiative’s success at a community forum January 26 at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

A published article on Slate, a daily web magazine and podcast network, has chronicled Jannette Berkley-Patton’s efforts to launch Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside, a program that has nearly doubled the original goal of vaccinating 5,000 people.

the beginning of 2021, faculty from the Department of Dental Public Health at UMKC School of Dentistry responded to a call from the executive director of KC Care Health Center to help administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Maria Meyers, executive director, UMKC Innovation Center, is one of the Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside co-chairs mobilizing Kansas City’s business community to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

A first-generation college student, Demi Elrod knew she wanted to be a doctor so she could help people. So, the decision to volunteer as a vaccinator for Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside was an easy one.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City and University Health are leading Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 and bring vaccine access to the city’s underserved communities.

As president of the East 23rd Street PAC neighborhood association for a dozen years, Rachel Riley has rallied residents “to roll up our sleeves, show our love for each other and take back our community from trash and violence.” When OHKCE reached out about its program to bring vaccinations, information and other health care services to Eastside neighborhoods, Riley said, “we’re all in.”

Denise Dean has big plans, and her UMKC research experience and bachelor of health sciences degree are helping her realize them.

Chris Harris is well-known for his efforts to elevate and energize the Ivanhoe neighborhood on the eastside of Kansas City. Recently, Harris began applying his energy to providing opportunities in the neighborhood for people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside program has spread across traditionally underserved areas in Kansas City, bringing COVID-19 vaccinations and a range of preventive health screenings to residents who often don’t have easy access to such services. As the $5 million program reaches more and more residents, it’s good to recall that it started with an idea in the office of Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr., who grew up on the Eastside.

Daniel Smith, co-founder and principal of The Porter House KC, a co-working community that provides resources for business creation to underserved communities in Kansas City, is dedicated to building a healthy and thriving urban core.

Youth Ambassadors has a successful history bringing positive change to the lives of teenagers in underserved neighborhoods in Kansas City. In addition to a year-round employment program, its summer program provides youth with opportunities to explore experiential learning and leadership. Based on its history, Youth Ambassadors has the opportunity to leverage relationships with its participants to drive COVID-19 vaccination.

In the late 1980s, Eric D. Williams, pastor of Calvary Temple Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, fought a long, but worthwhile battle educating his community on AIDS awareness and prevention – both from his pulpit and in his neighborhood. Today, he continues his crusade for good health through the Our Healthy KC Eastside initiative to fight COVID-19.

Residents from four Kansas City neighborhood associations gathered Aug. 21 at a midday event making COVID-19 vaccines and other health resources available to their communities.

UMKC’s Dina Newman plays a critical role in the COVID outreach project.