COVID-19 Community Education Task Force Report

The COVID-19 Community Education Task Force was formed in January 2021 to bring information about vaccine and COVID-19 safety to the Baltimore community. The task force, comprised of Johns Hopkins employees and allies, coordinated and developed dozens of events, campaigns and resources between January and September of 2021. This report gives an overview of the many projects completed by the task force throughout that time.

Baltimore City & Johns Hopkins Medical Religious Partnership

Press Conferences

The Mayor’s Office and Johns Hopkins entered into a collaboration to advise houses of worship on strategies to safely reopen as coronavirus-related guidance evolved.
Johns Hopkins staff participating in a press conference for WJZ-13

Education Event

As part of the medical-religious collaboration, a virtual event guiding faith-based organizations to reopen safely was held.
A computer with images of a facebook post for a virtual education session

Pilot Program Workflow and Engagement Process

Interested faith organizations could sign up to participate in the pilot COVID-19 recommendation program.
A map of Baltimore City separated into four separate areas with the upper left being quadrant one, upper right is quadrant two, lower right is quadrant three, and lower left is quadrant four

Houses of Worship Served

The medical religious partnership has served 9 places of worship as of September 2021.
Masked individuals in a house of worship

Workgroup

A workgroup was created to oversee the partnership and coordinate with Baltimore City.
Masked congregation in a house of worship listening to recommendations for reopening their house of worship

Learn More About the Baltimore City & Johns Hopkins Medical Religious Partnership

Notable Speakers

Audience Reach at a Glance

  • 23,331

    People Reached

    UrbanOne Radio Event

  • 21,356

    People Reached

    AFRO Event: Viewership Statistics

  • 131,200

    People Reached

    El Tiempo Latino: Viewer Statistics

Our Task Force Leadership

Jeanne Hitchcock, Esq.

Co-Lead, COVID-19 Community Task Force
JHU Office of Local Government and Community Affairs
Jeanne Hitchcock

Risha Irvin, M.D., M.P.H.

Partner, COVID-19 Community Education Task Force
JHU School of Medicine
Irvin Risha

Katie O'Conor, M.D.

Partner, COVID-19 Community Education Task Force
JHU School of Medicine
Katie O'Conor

Joni Holifield

Partner, COVID-19 Community Education Task Force
Heartsmiles
Joni Holifield

Katrina Caldwell, Ph.D.

Partner, COVID-19 Community Education Task Force
Johns Hopkins University
Katrina Caldwell

JHU/JHM Partners

April Lugo

JHM Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity
April Lugo

Panagis Galiatsatos, M.D., M.H.S.

JHM Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity
Panagis Galiatsatos

Nondie Hemphill, J.D.

JHU Office of Local Government and Community Affairs
Nondle Hemphill

Chrystal Green, M.Ed.

JHU Office of Local Government and Community Affairs
Chrystal Green

James Biernatowski

JHU Office of Local Government and Community Affairs
James Biernatowski

Nancy Edwards Molello, M.S.B.

Urban Health Institute and Center for Health Equity
Nancy Edwards Molello

Lisa Cooper, M.D., M.P.H.

Urban Health Institute and Center for Health Equity
Lisa Cooper

Maya Venkataramani, M.D., M.P.H.

Brancati Center for the Advancement of Community Care
Maya Venkataramani

Lindsay Rothstein, M.A.

JHM Marketing and Communications
Lindsay Rothstein

Susan Krenn

JH Center for Communication Programs
Susan Krenn

Jennifer Boyle, M.A.

JH Center for Communication Programs
Jennifer Boyle

Erica Nybro, M.P.H.

JH Center for Communication Programs
Erica Nybro

Kathleen Page, M.D.

JH Center for Salud/Health and Opportunities for Latinos
Kathleen Page