Bredow, Victoria Lowerson and Connie McGuire. 2020. California COVID-19 Stories. University of California Irvine. Community-based Research Initaitive, Newkirk Center for Science & Society.
The uneven impacts of COVID-19 demonstrate well documented systemic inequities across sectors. In California, Latinxs and Native Americans are disproportionately more likely to die due COVID-19 (CAPDH), and in Orange County, Latinxs are at greatest risk of being left out of economic recovery responses to the unemployment crisis (Parks et al 2020). Even the best policies often reinforce persistent socio-economic inequities. This raises the critical question of how to create policies that respond to communities most impacted by the unfolding crisis.
Grounded in the community-participatory based research (CBPR) principle that responses to collective social problems demand the knowledge of those who experience them, in this project we will collaborate with community partners to gather, analyze, and communicate COVID-19 stories with the public and policymakers.
- Establishment of this PECE page and building of infrastructure and training.
- IRB Self-Exempt Process.
- Pilot project collection of archival material (e.g policy documents and media) to establish current narratives on Essential Workers.
- Pilot project preliminary data collection.
- Pilot project nterview outreach and recruitment.
- Co-design and secure support for Particpatory Action Research component of project.
- Design out subsequent projects based on analysis of preliminary findings from pilot project.
- Continue outreach to community and campus partners, interviews, and analysis.
- Share preliminary analysis and synthesized findings with narrators.
- Prepare Op-eds and other communication strategies to share findings.
The moral economy of essential workers produces "heroes" and "helpers" who risk their lives, often for low pay.
The signs pictured are part of a fundraiser called the Orange Yard Sign Project in Orange, CA to raise money to help feed needy families during the pandemic (McGuire August 2020).
