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University of Toledo Hosts Panel to Discuss COVID-19 impact
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
The University of Toledo’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion
and Brothers on the Rise organized a virtual panel that
discussed how COVID-19 has impacted the African-American and
Hispanic communities on July 23.
The discussion was moderated by Sammy Spann, PhD. the
associate vice president and dean of Students at UT. The
panel participants were: Gwen Gregory, Toledo-Lucas County
Health Department Director of Nursing and Health Services;
Louis Guardiola, University of Toledo College of Health and
Human Services associate lecturer and assistant dean for
Diversity and Inclusion; Gabriel Lomeli, University of
Toledo assistant director of Undergraduate Admission; and
Jason Wanamaker, University of Toledo fourth-year medical
student.
Immediately following opening comments, the panel discussed
how current living conditions of African Americans and
Hispanics elevated the COVID impact.
“COVID amplified existing economic disparities. People are
already dealing with risks factors like using public
transportation, living in cramped living conditions, and
working jobs that don’t provide a living wage,” explained
Wanamaker.
“People take for granted that individuals have to take the
bus and can only travel to certain areas and certain grocery
stores. When the bus is your only form of transportation,
you can’t jump from bus to bus when searching for supplies
like you can with a vehicle,” added Gregory.
In addition to discussing existing risk factors, the panel
also talked about how COVID has impacted families and
cultural traditions.
“I’m from a small town and very close to my family, we’re no
different than other Latino families. It was difficult
hearing about family members that were sick and we couldn’t
visit or even check on them. That’s when you miss the human
touch, deal with isolation, and realize that you shouldn’t
take your family for granted,” said Lomeli.
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