Stages of Freedom Launches Innovative COVID-19 Website to Support Minorities

By Ray Rickman, Stages of Freedom
 

Stages of Freedom, the award-winning non-profit, announces the launch of its new website, “Connected” to help the African American community navigate COVID-19.

Visit: https://www.stagesoffreedom.org/connected

Both in the nation, and in Rhode Island, people of color, particularly African Americans, are contracting and dying from COVID-19 in larger numbers than any other segment of the American population. The Rhode Island Department of Health acknowledged this this week.

Designed for use by children, teens and their parents, the site, which will be up-dated daily, provides three portals that; 1) Allow users to engage with exciting educational and virtual experiences; 2) Connect with one another through a social platform; and 3) Keep abreast of the most up-do-date information and resources available on COVID-19.

Launching at 10:30am – Monday – April 19, 2020

In March, Stages of Freedom was made aware of the fact the many minorities and low-income people were not effectively preparing for or responding to the coming pandemic. The lack of understanding of basic protections and social distancing is one of reasons we are seeing high levels of infection. As many minorities and low-income people with frontline jobs do not have the financial resources to stay home, it is essential that they have as much knowledge about this virus as the majority of the population. The demise of many Rhode Island Black institutions, means that there are fewer resources to readily turn to.

Stages of Freedom’s new website plans to fill this void by communicating with a minimum of 40,000 people on a daily basis and directing them to all available resources, such as those under the auspices of the United Way, and additional medical and mental health services.

Stages of Freedom’s ultimate goal is to save lives, connect people to each other during an extended period of isolation, provide uplifting and educational virtual experiences, and directly focus the need to better serve the minority population.

The initiation of this highly innovative, interactive website is made possible by a financial gift from philanthropist Vincent J. Buonanno, Jr. of Providence.

Contact: Ray Rickman (401) 316-4819