Hard hitting event explores the disproportionate impact of COVID on people of colour

As countries around the world struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic, there is growing recognition that rather than being a great leveller, the pandemic is widening the social, health and economic gaps.

On 17 March, the University of Northampton’s Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) Staff Network will host a virtual event to sharpen the global focus on ethnicity and race in the time of COVID-19.

The Justice, Anti-Racism against Discrimination and the fight for its Elimination (JADE) event will mark the University’s support for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The event, which is open to students, staff and members of the community in Northampton, will welcome guest speaker Dr Gwenetta Curry, an academic expert on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities at the Medical College of the University of Edinburgh. Dr Curry will share her research on ethnicity, race and COVID-19, in this thought provoking look at the impact of the pandemic.

Dr Marcella Daye, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, and co-chair of the GEM Network, said: “I have great concerns that the pandemic has been disproportionately impacting people of colour. There’s also some uncertainty among our ethnic groups in accepting the COVID-19 vaccines. Through this JADE conversation, we hope to focus thinking and ensure that the voice of people of colour are represented, heard and understood, with the aim to minimise the adverse negative impacts of this pandemic on people of colour.”

The JADE event will take place virtually on 17 March, from 5-6pm. Register to attend the event here.

The GEM Network welcomes UON staff members to join and to share with family, friends and networks to participate in this event. For more information, email: gemstaffnetwork@northampton.ac.uk