Collaboration & Consensus

Consider these questions as if you were an administrator in one of the above listed institutions.

• What are the existing roles of institutions during the pandemic? Are they doing a good job or not? In what areas are they doing well, and not so well?

• What are some new roles and responsibilities and activities that might be required of institutions during the pandemic to ensure or improve the accessibility/inclusivity and effectiveness of their institution?

• In what ways can institutions adapt to serve the needs of those they serve? What structural elements might be getting in the way and why?

• What are some potential solutions to breaking down the barriers that exist?

• Consider these elements:

• Develop a plan and messaging to effectively implement these programs with accessibility, and inclusivity at the center.

• Healthcare: Vaccine Rollout and Distribution (messaging)

• Education: “Virtual” Learning Program (messaging)

• Government Relief Payments (Bonos/Stimulus)

  • Examples:

    1. How can educational opportunities be made more accessible, inclusive and effective for all students affected by changes required by the COVID-19 pandemic? OR

    2. How can healthcare be made more accessible, inclusive and effective so that it can handle everyday challenges and the pandemic? OR

    3. How can coronavirus relief be made more accessible, inclusive and effective for all communities?

    4. What are the different dimensions of “survival” in the pandemic? How does it vary? What are people’s greatest challenges? How are institutions well equipped or not to handle these challenges? How could they improve or adapt to do so? What needs to happen for that?

• What can individuals do to help reshape the institutions they are a part of? How can they hold their institutions accountable? What does that look like? What would their demands for reform look like? How can individuals achieve these demands? What mechanisms exist?

“Individual behaviors can shape the success of individuals. But policies determine the success of groups.” - Ibram X. Kendi

• How has the pandemic revealed injustice in our societies?

• Here are some injustices to consider?

• Shine a light on, and develop messaging to inspire and take meaning action toward effective solutions.

  • Continuance of Education during Quarantine for students without access to technology or wifi

  • How do you identify and support individuals and families who have trouble meeting the minimum health standards necessary for COVID-19 prevention/mitigation?

  • How do we count all people and make all people count so that we can provide representation and services equitably during COVID-19. Think identification for all inhabitants of any country.

• What role do power and privilege play in these existing injustices and understanding/knowledge of them?

• How can individuals bring about social justice in their communities? What are the barriers that perpetuate power and privilege and prevent the manifestation of social justice?

• How does learning/understanding others perspectives help to reveal opportunities for meaningful changes or reforms?

• How can individuals shine the light on injustice manifesting in their communities?

• What can be done? What would social justice look like in our societies and their institutions? How can social justice be achieved? Who needs to be involved at what levels and why?

• What does it mean to be a citizen? What rights and responsibilities do I have as a citizen?

• What is the role of the individual in following guidelines for COVID-19 control locally, nationally and globally?

• When can a citizens’ individual rights be restricted for the safety of the community?

• How does someone’s background and experience shape the way people understand and respond to COVID-19?

• How is the COVID-19 response coordinated? What’s happening at the local, national, global levels?

• How can I effectively challenge COVID-19 policies I do not agree with?