PI Perspectives

The killing of George Floyd by method of knee to the neck by a sworn white male officer and three complicit officers who stood by and inflicted further harm rather than choosing to render aid; the video revelation of the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery by white male vigilantes in Georgia; the fatal shooting of EMT Breonna Taylor by police executing a no-knock search warrant in Louisville; and the video-taped interaction in New York's Central Park between a white female Amy Cooper evoking a dangerous false narrative assassinating the character of Christian Cooper—a dramatization she clearly believed would work in her favor—brought to light, once again, this country's sickening and ultimately fatal attachment to hurting, harming, diminishing, and destroying Black lives. It’s past time to dismantle this culture of hatred. Black Lives Matter. It’s past time to end racist outcomes through tangible actions.

In the middle of a pandemic, what does a commitment to wellbeing mean? And what do connection and belonging look like when we can’t be physically close to each other? These are things I’ve been learning about as I’ve watched the 13 Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Men and Boys coalitions respond to COVID-19 impacts in their communities.

As people across the country stay at home and practice physical distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, public health agencies and community organizations are stepping up in new ways to prevent violence and support safety. What we’ve learned over time about a public health approach to preventing violence is ever more important: we need to examine the data, put community members in the lead, and work across sectors. Based on the early unfolding of the pandemic and discussions with Prevention Institute’s partners, here’s what we’re seeing groups do to respond.