2023 highlights
YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts partnered with Round the Bend Farm for their Manifest Love project, which ran from June through November.
November 2023
YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts partnered with Round the Bend Farm for their Manifest Love project — an effort to put fresh farm goods on the tables of families in New Bedford. The project, which ran from May to November 2023, included free food shares, cooking recipes for healthy dishes, and COVID information translated into Spanish and Portuguese.
Congratulations to the Community Engagement Unit on the success of the summit!
September 2023
Over 100 attendees — including Tribal leaders and community members from Tribes in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York; Tribal and Indigenous people serving organizations (TIPSOs); and leaders from federal and statewide agencies — joined together for the Commonwealth's first-ever Tribal and Indigenous Health Summit held on September 28. The summit focused on the sharing of strategies and resources to culturally enhance and strengthen partnerships in the state.
In June, Making Opportunity Count hosted COVID-19 vaccine clinics and educational events in Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, and Clinton
June 2023
Throughout June, Making Opportunity Count hosted four COVID-19 vaccine clinics and educational events in Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner, and Clinton (see photo). Staff shared flyers in Spanish and Portuguese at these events, and 15 people received COVID-19 vaccinations. The events also received positive community feedback. As one community member shared: “I am relieved that there are still clinics where I was able to go and get my vaccine, thank you!”
Throughout June, Haitian Community Partners hosted several COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Brockton.
June 2023
Throughout June, Haitian Community Partners (HCP) hosted six educational events and four COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Brockton. In total, 20 people were vaccinated, and staff shared over 200 flyers with information about the COVID-19 vaccine. More photos from HCP's June vaccination events can be viewed on their website.
La Colaborativa has been offering COVID-19 vaccine clinics during their weekly food pantry.
June 2023
Throughout May, La Colaborativa (based in Chelsea) continued to offer two weekly COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the same time as their weekly food pantry. Offering the vaccine clinics and food pantry together has been a productive strategy for La Colaborativa, since many community members, including new immigrants, come for the food pantry and can be vaccinated while waiting in line or after they pick up their food.
May 24, 2023
On May 24, Coalition for a Better Acre (based in Lowell) hosted one of its monthly Community Health Outreach Program (CHOP) dinners. During the May dinner, community members learned about the Health Equity Compact, an organization that brings together leaders of color across Massachusetts to advance health equity. COVID-19 vaccines were also available.
May 20, 2023
Black Springfield COVID-19 Coalition hosted several events in May. On May 20, they cohosted a health awareness presentation with Men of Color Health Awareness (M.O.C.H.A.) to share information about the MassHealth redetermination and discuss long COVID (see flyer). On May 26, the Coalition hosted their Line Dance Re-Union. COVID-19 vaccines were offered at both events.
May 2023
This spring, Asian Women for Health (AWFH) cohosted three educational events in Boston and Lowell, reaching over 500 attendees. At these events, they have been addressing attendees' questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, including discussing the safety of the vaccine for pregnant people and the vaccine's halal status. AWFH has also been distributing multilingual COVID-19 educational materials, including materials in Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese.
April 2023
Get Boosted campaign results in nearly 80,000 vaccinations!
From October 2022 through March 2023, hundreds of Get Boosted clinics were held throughout Vaccine Equity Initiative communities for individuals and families to get their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Preliminary data showed that nearly 80,000 individuals received COVID-19 vaccinations as part of the campaign. Thank you to all of our partners who helped make this program possible!
JAHAN Women and Youth Intercultural sponsored a Ramadan Bazaar, which included a COVID vaccine clinic.
March 11, 2023
On March 11, JAHAN Women and Youth Intercultural sponsored the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center's Ramadan Bazaar, where local vendors sold halal food and drinks, clothing, jewelry, art, and more. In total, around 600 people attended. Charles River Community Health hosted an on-site COVID-19 vaccine clinic, and there was an info table offering COVID-19 resources and MassHealth application assistance.
February 21, 2023
On February 21, Black Springfield COVID-19 Coalition partnered with Strong Young Minds for a conversation about the effect COVID-19 has had on education. The event included a discussion with parents, teachers, and other school representatives, as well as arts and crafts, music, and refreshments. A Get Boosted clinic was also held.
Several Vacation Week clinics were held at Altitude Trampoline Park in Avon.
February 2023
Many of the Vaccine Equity Initiative communities held Get Boosted clinics for families to get COVID-19 vaccines and boosters during February School Vacation. Several of the clinics were held at trampoline parks (see photos) and other fun locations. In total, over 3,000 individuals got vaccinated. Thank you to all of our partners who made these events possible!
A COVID-19 vaccine clinic at People’s Supermarket.
January 21, 2023
On January 21, Pioneer Valley Project (PVP) hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at People’s Supermarket, a Springfield-based bodega. Bilingual/Spanish-speaking staff were at the clinic to attend to the community’s linguistic and cultural needs. 27 individuals got vaccinated, including the owner of People’s Supermarket, who received a booster. PVP later partnered with the bodega again for a clinic on February 18, 2023, at which 25 people got vaccinated.
January 6, 2023
The Vaccine Equity Initiative’s Get Boosted program has been extended through March 31, 2023, for all participating communities! Over 40,000 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered since the Get Boosted effort began October 24. Residents of all ages who get vaccinated (any dose) at participating clinics can receive a $75 gift card to local retailers, while supplies last. Find participating clinics at mass.gov/GetBoosted.
January 2023
Berkshire Resources for the Integration of Diverse Communities (BRIDGE) had a busy start to their year. Throughout January, BRIDGE distributed over 900 resource kits, which included cleaning supplies, PPE, and clinic schedules and up-to-date guidance for COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
2021-2022 highlights
Visit VEI Highlights from 2021 to 2022.