Stepping Forward to Advance Racial Equity

from STEPPING FORWARD SPECIAL EDITION OF CONNECTIONS

February 25, 2021

Advocates and activists have always been at the leading edge of historic policy advances and lasting societal changes. The call for racial justice that swept the country in 2020 led to the emergence of new voices and young leaders who present a generation-defining moment for making systemic changes that advance racial equity.

COVID-19 has caused disproportionate suffering for Black and Brown communities, exacerbating longstanding health, economic, education and other disparities.

The percentage of adults experiencing food insecurity, for example, ranges from 22% and 27% among Black and Latino adults, respectively, compared to 9% among white adults according to the 2020 DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey data.6

Gender disparities have also worsened since the start of the pandemic. Nationally, four times more women left the workforce than men in September 2020. In Connecticut, 75% of initial and continuing unemployment claims were made by women without a college degree.7

DataHaven Chart
55% of Black adults reported in 2020 that financially, they were either just getting by or finding it difficult to get by as compared to 18% of white adults and 24% of Connecticut residents overall. Source: 2020 DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey
Job Cut Chart
Latinos and adults living with children have been hit hard by job cuts.
Age-Adjusted Chart
Age-adjusted rate of COVID-19 related deaths per 10,000 residents by race/ ethnicity, statewide as of 02/15/2021. Click chart for most recent data.


Sources:

6 2020 DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey and COVID-19 Response Wave
7 Essential Equity: Women, COVID-19 and Rebuilding CT

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