Black churches step up to help hard-hit community

As African-Americans die from the virus at disproportionately high rates, some Black churches and doctors are filling in the gaps in testing and health care.

Listen 13:01
Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium

Flanked by fellow doctors, Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, speaks to reporters in the parking lot of the West Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church. (Christopher Norris/WHYY)

Listen to The Why wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | TuneIn


Black Philadelphians are dying from COVID-19 at a disproportionately high rate. Part of the problem: There’s not enough testing being offered in lower income neighborhoods in the city, where more people of color live. Now, Black churches are partnering with Black doctors to fill the gaps — a concept that has deep historical roots in other disease outbreaks in the city and in the civil rights movement.

Guest: Chris Norris, WHYY’s Community Contributors and Engagement Editor

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal