St. John’s, Elected Officials, Community Leaders Announce New Effort to Reach Leimert Park Residents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, July 24 2021
Contact: Cabot Petoia, clpetoia@gmail.com, 828-899-9239
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Los Angeles — Today, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center held a press conference alongside elected officials and community leaders to highlight a new targeted effort to encourage Leimert Park residents — with a particular focus on young Black men, who have some of the lowest vaccination rates in LA County — to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The effort will engage community members and offer incentives for getting the word out in Leimert Park, where only about 58.7 percent of Leimert Park residents over the age of 16 have been vaccinated so far.
Small businesses in Leimert Park will receive $200 for displaying posters in their storefronts, everyone who gets vaccinated today at the Community Build location will receive a $25 American Express gift card, and barbers who refer customers to vaccination sites will receive a $25 American Express gift card per person who successfully gets vaccinated as a result.
“While our clinics are still steadily administering COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that getting vaccinated may be deprioritized for people who may have trouble accessing it for a variety of reasons while also feeling less urgency around getting vaccinated as the world opens up,” said Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center. “We are dedicated to meeting people where they are, and reminding everyone that getting vaccinated is critical to both individual and collective health.”
“Throughout the Los Angeles region, and particularly in underrepresented and diverse communities, we have a chance to build a truly equitable and inclusive economy and future,” said Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “A recovery and revitalization is approaching which will not only keep our communities open for business, but create opportunity for every Angeleno, and we are excited to be part of it, we must first ensure that our region is protected from the coronavirus. I urge everyone who hasn’t already done so to get the vaccine. It’s safe, it’s free, and it is the only thing that will get us back to business.”
“Building trust in vaccines starts with grounding events in the communities they serve,” said Sharon Knight, Executive Director of Stop the Spread. “We are excited to expand our partnership with St. John’s and the C19 Coalition by bringing the Community Supper Program to Los Angeles to enhance this incredible event and support the local businesses in this community.”