Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic by the Hindu Faith-Based Organizations in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Religious and faith-based communities can play a significant role in building a resilient society during and after a pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), religious institutions, faith-based organizations, and faith communities can provide important healthcare information to a community's most vulnerable population through their service networks. Currently, India ranks second in terms of the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. In March 2020, India adopted a travel restriction for visitors from outside India, followed by a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the disease. During this time, many religious institutions and faith-based communities provided aid to needy people, such as wage workers and migrant laborers who did not have jobs to support themselves. Against this backdrop, this paper examines the role of two well-known Hindu faith-based organizations in Lucknow-Brahma Kumaris and Sri Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama in providing various tangible and intangible services to the citizens. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Faith Communities Contribute to COVID-19 Relief: Global and Local Responses of Churches Belonging to a World Communion in Accompaniment with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has long been engaged in relief and development work. Internationally, the ELCA engages in this work through relationships with national churches and as a member of a global Lutheran communion. As COVID-19 emerged and then spread into a pandemic affecting people and communities around the world, this network positioned us to respond. As of January 2021, the ELCA supported responses of churches and local organizations, all embedded as integral parts of their communities, in more than 45 countries. We present narratives collected from COVID-19 response participants in Brazil, India, and Sierra Leone to demonstrate the unique contribution that local churches made in addressing the impacts of COVID-19 in their contexts and convey the collective impact of this work through participating in relationship and mission together. We aim to show that these responses are effective, relevant, build resilience, and address injustice, both by focusing immediate relief where, and with whom the greatest injustice of the pandemic is directly felt, and with an eye toward working for justice for the longer term. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

"This Is Where We Have Scored”: Exploring the Interface between Project and Institutional Sustainability Facilitated by a Faith-Based Development Organisation in Sierra Leone

This paper explores the issue of project sustainability through an analysis of the experiences of a Faith-Based Development Organisation (FBDO) in Bo, Sierra Leone. The FBDO in question was approached by members of their local Catholic Women Association (CWA) to help them with the planning and management of a farm that had been donated to them by a chief. They agreed to this, and a series of workshops were held in June 2014, along with follow-up discussions with local experts and businesses as to what could be done to help support the women in their endeavour. Amongst other priorities, the women identified the need for the farm to produce food, income and help with their development. However, an outbreak of the Ebola virus that occurred between 2014 and 2016, following as it did on the back of an 11-year (1991–2002) civil war in Sierra Leone, led to a re-evaluation of the farm project in the eyes of the FBDO as they decided to shift to earlier priorities in education and health care. Given the constraints regarding resources and personnel, community projects, such as the CWA farm project, became of much lesser importance even though it resonated strongly with the goals of the FBDO and government, and had garnered much support amongst international donors. The paper sets out that story, beginning with the workshops and discussions held in 2014, and the ramifications of these responses to various ‘shocks', such as those presented by the civil war and disease outbreaks (Ebola and COVID-19);it also provides recommendations that might be of use regarding the interface between project and institutional sustainability within FBDOs and, indeed, the wider community of development organisations.

THE FOURTH ETHICAL COMMENT TOWARDS COVID-19 (three years later). TRUST AND FAITH: SOCIAL AND MORAL PROFILE OF VACCINATION.

The summarizing up the semantic and systemic results should comprise the next phase to provide insights into COVID-19 pandemic and consider it as a modern epidemic and humanitarian crisis on global level. The journal <<Infection and Immunity>> regularly and consistently present the results of ethically viewed legal framework of the pandemic and the administrative regulation of the public health system. Analysis and ethical assessment of the situation covers a wide range of issues, including the provision and operational adaptation of the regulatory framework, the problems of medical care, the processes and conditions for developing diagnostics, treatment and prevention, as well as all aspects related to the organization and implementing vaccination. Three previous ethical comments presented in 2020-2022 during the pandemic were devoted to these issues. Current study within the framework of the <<fourth ethical commentary>> follows directly from the data obtained while evaluating and analysing real-world experience on vaccination in the context of a regional cluster - the CIS member states, presented in the previous article. The perceived need and obvious significance of the study is to highlight objective factors of vulnerability in the vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the response spectrum to form trust/or distrust to vaccination in various sectors of society, depending on a set of social and moral factors, including those coupled to a religious denomination. The data obtained are of paramount importance to find the moral ways to support and stabilize a responsible attitude with the aim to protect moral, social and physical health in emergency situations.Copyright © 2023 Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute. All rights reserved.

Engaging Faith-Based Organizations for Promoting the Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine in India: A Case Study of a Multi-Faith Society.

Mass vaccination, currently the most promising solution to contain communicable diseases, including COVID-19 requires collaboration between a variety of partners to improve the supply and demand and alleviate vaccine inequity. Vaccine hesitancy features in WHO's list of top 10 threats to global health, and there is plethora of disinformation instigating conflict between COVID-19 vaccination drive and religious sentiments. Negotiating public health partnerships with FBOs (Faith Based Organizations) has always been challenging. A handful of faith leaders have always shown resistance to ideas such as child immunization, and family planning. Many others have been supportive on other fronts like helping people with food, shelter, and medical aid in the times of public health crisis. Religion is an important part of life for the majority of the Indian population. People confide in faith-based leaders in the times of difficulty. This article presents experiences from the strategic engagement with FBOs (entities dedicated to specific religious identities, often including a social or moral component) to promote uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, especially among the vulnerable and marginalized communities. The project team collaborated with 18 FBOs and more than 400 religious institutions to promote COVID-19 vaccination and build confidence for the vaccination program. As a result, a sustainable network of sensitized FBOs from diverse faiths was created. The FBOs mobilized and facilitated vaccination of 0.41 million beneficiaries under the project.

Role of faith-based organisations and individuals in provision of health services in Zimbabwe

This article reflects on the increasing roles of faith-based organisations (FBOs) and individual followers in the provision of health services in Zimbabwe within the context of declining capabilities of state-funded and state-owned health facilities. In colonial and post-colonial Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular, FBOs have consistently contributed to the provision of public services and social security. We contend that state fragilities in the Zimbabwean political landscape result in severe public service delivery deficits that are often filled by FBOs and individual followers. The implications for FBOs and individual followers are twofold. Firstly, the increased involvement of FBOs in the production and provision of public services such as education and health services afford FBOs with opportunities and spaces to evangelise. Secondly, and on the downward side, the provision of health services can often be expensive and diverts attention from the core business of these religious organisations. The article reveals that in the context of economic and governance crises, FBOs play an increasingly momentous role in providing health care services in Zimbabwe. The article focuses on Zimbabwe during the crisis periods of 2007–2009 and 2018 up to the current (2022) socio-economic and political declines, poor governance, and the subsequent fragilities in the state. Contribution: Faith-based organisations assume increasing roles in the provision of health services in place of failing states. Those increased roles provide FBOs opportunities to evangelise. However, FBOs are not a sustainable replacement because they become afflicted with the same financial challenges that bedevil the state.

Religion-Spirituality Influences in the Governance of Faith-Based Organizations during the Covid Pandemic

This article seeks to understand the influence of religion/spirituality on services provided and on the governance of faith-based civil society organizations during the Covid-19 pandemic. 22 coordinators of 17 Brazilian organizations that work in the governance of children's rights at the local level are interviewed. The results point to organizational expressions of religiosity, added services, and developed communication and networking capabilities. The research highlights the religion/spirituality dimension in network governance between different actors and the community, characterized by interdependence and intersectionality, and discusses contradictory factors that increase or decrease governance capacity. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Psychological Well-Being of Prospective Counselors from the Faith-Based Educational Institution in the COVID-19 Outbreak.

This study aims to analyze the Psychological Well-Being among prospective counselors from the Faith-Based Educational Institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. The approach of this study was quantitative with a descriptive method. The Psychological Well-Being among prospective counselors is at a high classification level, namely 84%. The components of Psychological Well-Being that are above the total average score are Positive Relationship with Other People and components of Self-Growth.

Reaching late adopters: factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination of Marshallese and Hispanic adults.

BACKGROUND: Marshallese and Hispanic communities in the United States have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Identifying strategies to reach late vaccine adopters is critical for ongoing and future vaccination efforts. We utilized a community-engaged approach that leveraged an existing community-based participatory research collaborative of an academic healthcare organization and Marshallese and Hispanic faith-based organizations (FBO) to host vaccination events. METHODS: Bilingual Marshallese and Hispanic study staff conducted informal interviews with 55 participants during the 15-minute post-vaccination observation period and formal semi-structured interviews with Marshallese (n = 5) and Hispanic (n = 4) adults post-event to assess the implementation of community vaccine events at FBOs, with a focus on factors associated with the decision to attend and be vaccinated. Formal interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic template coding categorized with the socio-ecological model (SEM). Informal interview notes were coded via rapid content analysis and used for data triangulation. RESULTS: Participants discussed similar factors influencing attitudes and behaviors toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Themes included: (1) intrapersonal - myths and misconceptions, (2) interpersonal - protecting family and family decision-making, (3) community - trust of community location of events and influence of FBO members and leaders, (4) institutional - trust in a healthcare organization and bilingual staff, and (5) policy. Participants noted the advantages of vaccination delivery at FBOs, contributing to their decision to attend and get vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: The following strategies may improve vaccine-related attitudes and behaviors of Marshallese and Hispanic communities not only for the COVID-19 vaccine but also for other preventive vaccinations: 1) interpersonal-level - develop culturally-focused vaccine campaigns targeting the family units, 2) community-level - host vaccination events at convenient and/or trusted locations, such as FBOs, and engage community and/or FBO formal or lay leaders as vaccine ambassadors or champions, and 3) institutional-level - foster trust and a long-term relationship with the healthcare organization and provide bilingual staff at vaccination events. Future research would be beneficial to investigate the effects of replicating these strategies to support vaccine uptake among Marshallese and Hispanic communities.

The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Improving Vaccination Confidence & Addressing Vaccination Disparities to Help Improve Vaccine Uptake: A Systematic Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of vaccination to support individual health across the life-course, with vaccination playing a central strategy role in mitigating transmission and disease. This required unprecedented mobilization and coordination across all sectors to meet people where they are, enable equitable access, and build vaccination confidence. A literature search was conducted with combinations of the keywords and variations of vaccination and faith-based organizations (FBOs). Search inclusion criteria were: (1) FBO programs that supported public health emergency efforts, including vaccination efforts as the primary outcome; and (2) articles written in English language. A total of 37 articles met inclusion criteria (n = 26 focused on general public health campaigns, n = 11 focused on vaccination efforts). The findings related to public health campaigns fell into four themes: FBO's ability to (1) tailor public health campaigns; (2) mitigate barriers; (3) establish trust; and (4) disseminate and sustain efforts. The findings related to vaccine uptake efforts fell into three themes: (1) pre-pandemic influenza and HPV vaccination efforts, (2) addressing vaccine disparities in minority communities, and (3) enabling COVID-19 vaccination. This review demonstrated that FBOs have a vital role in both public health campaigns and vaccination initiatives to support high vaccine uptake and confidence.

Supporting Faith-Based Communities Through and Beyond the Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought widespread and notable effects to the physical and mental health of communities across New York City with disproportionate suffering Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino communities alongside additional stressors such as racism and economic hardship. This report describes the adaptation of a previously successful evidence-based community engagement health education program for the deployment of resilience promoting workshop program in faith-based organizations in BIPOC communities in New York City. From June 2021 to June 2022, nine faith-based organizations implemented 58 workshops to 1,101 non-unique workshop participants. Most of the workshops were delivered online with more women (N = 803) than men (N = 298) participating. All organizations completed the full curriculum; the workshop focused on self-care and physical fitness was repeated most frequently (N = 13). Participants in the workshops ranged from 4 to 73 per meeting and were largely female. The Building Community Resilience Project is an easy and effective way to modify an existing, evidence-based community health education program to address new and relevant health needs such as resilience and stress amidst the COVID-19 pandemic among faith communities serving BIPOC populations. More research is needed regarding the impact of the workshops as well as adaptability for other faith traditions.

Social assistance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: Does faith-based approach matters?

This paper aimed to examine the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in the distribution of social assistance (SA) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The paper adopts a qualitative case-study approach to explore the best practices in the distribution of SA by five (5) organizations including FBOs, governmental organizations (GOs), Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), political groups, and private voluntary groups. In this study, 14 beneficiaries of SA were selected by stratified proportionate random sampling method, and five (5) key personnel were selected purposively based on their experiences in the management of SA distribution. The study found that "no-move, no touch" approach followed by FBOs is more likely to establish human rights and social justice and reduce the transmission of diseases. In contrast to the modern idea, which undermines the faith-based charity, the study proved that faith-based charity is gaining attraction as an effective approach combating global pandemic. The findings of this paper will be useful for policymakers, voluntary service workers, GO, and NGO workers to ensure the distribution of SA in a more productive and disciplined way during and after an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using diverse community feedback to inform inclusive community action: Insights from the Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance

Purpose of Study: Clinical trial participation remains low among US minority groups, who account for <1/10 of trial participants.1,2 Diverse, equitable and inclusive participation is needed to lessen disparities in health status and clinical outcomes.3 Community-based participatory research (CBPR) strategies identify salient community issues, and may be useful for understanding and addressing participation barriers among minority groups.4,5 The Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (LA-CEAL) - a partnership of universities, community pharmacies, faith-based organizations (FBOs), and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) - aims to strengthen and leverage community relationships to address barriers to uptake of preventive/therapeutic strategies in underserved populations. This study examines the utility of LA-CEAL's CBPR approach in facilitating inclusive participation in clinical trials. Methods Used: Listening forums were held with a diverse group of LA community stakeholders, including healthcare providers, community pharmacists, FBO leaders and other trusted community members, to gather views on the need for and challenges to inclusive trial participation. Ongoing discussions between community representatives and leaders, academics and program staff facilitated outreach and guided development of informational strategies targeting minority groups. Summary of Results: Listening forums (N = 4;20 participants) revealed limited awareness, mistrust and fear stemming from historical and present injustices, and difficulty accessing opportunities as key themes underlying barriers to participation. To address identified barriers, 8 video testimonials featuring participants, investigators, and health advocates (62.5% Black;12.5% Hispanic;50% female) were developed to educate on expectations and experiences, motivations to participate, human subject protections, and the importance of diversity. Two animated videos featuring trusted community leaders and cultural ambassadors (e. g., New Orleans cultural icon, Irma Thomas) were created to explain trial processes, discuss participation benefits, and address the history of racism in medicine. Finally, connections between the Tulane Clinical Translational Unit and rural FQHCs enabled clinical trial study buses to visit and recruit in diverse LA communities. Conclusion(s): Via LA community stakeholder discussions, targeted strategies to address barriers to minority participation in clinical trials were developed and applied. Use of CBPR strategies was critical to developing intentional action reflective of LA community needs. Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

Planning and executing a health fair to bridge accessibility gaps and language barriers for the Hispanic community in Mobile County, Alabama

Purpose of Study: Community health fairs have been developed to address the unmet needs for disease prevention and health education among underserved communities. Hispanic communities experience significant non-financial barriers (e.g., cultural and linguistic) that also contribute to lower rates of access and utilization of health care services, including important preventive screening services. Around 3% of Mobile County's population is Hispanic. The aim of this event was: (1) To perform basic health screening, provide health education, and administer COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines to children under the age of 18 years. (2) To act as a bridge between the Hispanic families in the community and the available resources to help them overcome barriers to accessing quality care. Methods Used: We started by identifying and finalizing the location and the date for the health fair with help from the Guadalupe Center (a faith-based organization). We planned to divide the health fair into three specialized zones: Health Screening, Health Education, and Vaccination. The Health Screening zone would include anthropometry, developmental screening, and vision screening. The Health Education zone would educate the families on asthma care, breastfeeding, drowning prevention, road safety, safe sleep practices, oral hygiene, adverse childhood experiences, and healthy lifestyle. The Vaccination Zone would administer COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines. We designed and printed brochures for all health education topics in English and in Spanish. Age and gender appropriate 'Health Passports' with growth charts and other key parameters to record the child's health status were also created. Resident and medical student volunteers were trained regarding documentation, health screening, health education, and referrals to early intervention or specialist services that accepted uninsured or Medicaid patients. Summary of Results: A total of 49 children underwent health screening and health education. Each child's health status was documented in age and gender appropriate 'Health Passport'. In addition to this, these children and their parents were educated at the various health education stations and provided with brochures. Around 40% of the children that were screened had an abnormal vision screen, the parents of these children were given a list of available resources for further follow-up. Six children with developmental delay were identified and early intervention forms were filled out for two and more information regarding the Individualized Education Program (IEP) was given to the other four families. Eight children were vaccinated for COVID-19 and five were vaccinated for Influenza. Conclusion(s): The Hispanic community has persistently faced barriers to access healthcare due to literacy and socioeconomic status. Academic institutions and community- based organizations must work to develop and sustain culturally relevant health education and outreach events to reduce these disparities. Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

Addressing the Inequality of Disasters: The role of Faith-based Organizations in Disaster Response and Recovery

Disasters have a signi!cant global impact every year and disproportionally effect vulnerable populations. Disaster response efforts are often inequitable leaving already vulnerable populations at risk. These inequities in disaster response represent a social justice concern for congregations and congregational social workers and must be considered in future disaster recovery efforts. As churches and faith organizations provide essential disaster response and recovery services, this article outlines a model for increased inequity in provision of disaster response and recovery efforts. A case illustration using the COVID-19 pandemic is provided for further exploration of the equitable disaster response model in the context of congregations and congregational social work. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Modifying Text Messages from a Faith-Based Physical Activity Intervention with Latino Adults in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Text messages are useful for health promotion and can be modified during public health emergencies. PURPOSE: Describe how we developed and implemented a physical activity (PA) text messaging component within a faith-based intervention, modified the text message content in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluated participants' perceptions of the modified text messages. RESEARCH DESIGN AND STUDY SAMPLE: PA promotion text messages were delivered to predominately Spanish-speaking, churchgoing Latino adults (n = 284) in Los Angeles, California. In 2020, we modified the messages to disseminate COVID-19-related information and support and share virtual PA resources. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We analyzed quantitative and qualitative survey data to gauge participants' experiences with the text messages. RESULTS: COVID-19 related text messages were a feasible, acceptable addition to a PA intervention for a sample of Latinos. CONCLUSIONS: Throughout the pandemic, the messages enabled continued communication and support for PA and protection from COVID-19 in a population at high-risk of health inequities.

Religious Actors, Care, and Mood in the Time of COVID-19

The introduction to this special issue considers the interdisciplinary study of religious sentiments, religious care and social actions during the COvID-19 outbreak in South-, East-and Southeast Asia. Our approach in terms of nodes and polarisation allows one to visualise a bundle of religious and secular actors and interests, as well as original strategies and actions, in time of pandemic, which sometimes challenge local regimes of truth and authority. In many cases, faith-based NGO s have been complementing the State, activating their powerful channels of mission in urban and rural areas, under the guise of combating COVID-19 crisis. The studies presented here examine several Asian religious actors during this period of COvID-19 crisis;and the ways in which their creative digitalised measures of worship, protection and healing, and their participation in urgent public health and care provisions, have given them the opportunity to renegotiate their relationships with States and societies.

Comparing community-driven COVID-19 vaccine distribution methods: Faith-based organizations vs. outpatient clinics.

Background: Minority and low socioeconomic communities may face practical barriers to vaccination, including decreased access to health care and less trust in healthcare organizations; however, few studies have focused on these barriers as the cause of differential vaccine uptake. We worked with community partners to implement and evaluate two community-driven approaches to COVID-19 vaccination distribution-through faith-based organizations (FBOs) and outpatient clinics-with a focus on understanding the differences between the populations who accessed each distribution method. Methodology: Participants who came to the vaccination locations were approached and asked to complete a survey during their 15 min post-vaccination observation period. Differences between distribution locations were examined using Chi-square tests. Results: The survey rendered 1,476 valid responses, with a total of 927 participants recruited at clinical locations and 519 at FBOs during vaccination events. There were significant differences by race/ethnicity, with distribution methods at FBOs reaching a higher proportion of Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese participants. The proportion of uninsured participants who had lower health literacy and had lower educational attainment was higher with the FBO distribution method. FBO participants were more likely to report "completely" trusting the COVID-19 vaccine. There was no significant difference between FBO and clinic participants with regard to the level of vaccine hesitancy. There were no statistically significant differences with regard to access. Conclusion: A higher proportion of Hispanic/Latino and Marshallese participants utilized FBOs for vaccination, suggesting collaborations with FBOs can potentially increase vaccination uptake among minority communities and help mitigate vaccination disparities.

Building Capacity for Congenital Heart Patient- Centered Outcomes Research in Under-Represented Minorities

Background: In congenital heart disease, racial and ethnic disparities impact mortality, especially among Blacks and Hispanics in Texas and surrounding regions, however meaningful engagement in ACHD, especially interventional patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) and comparative effectiveness research (CER) has been limited by socioeconomic, cultural, and geographic factors. We employed a patient-driven peer-to-peer approach to recruit and engage racial minority ACHD patients and family members with the capacity to act as equal research partners to identify, participate in, develop, lead, and disseminate transcatheter intervention PCOR and CER. Method(s): In addition to the study team, four expert PCORI funded-consultants provided strategies and training on stakeholder recruitment and engagement for targeting minorities and underserved communities. The following strategies were employed: 1) engaging through faithbased organizations like churches, synagogues, and mosques 2) working with Houston Methodist Primary Care Providers (PCP) group to identify ACHD patients 3) recruiting through the project's Online Portal and participants' Video Blogs to appeal to stakeholders 4) using social media for mainstream outreach. Result(s): Eighteen total ACHD collaborative members were successfully recruited. Six ACHD patient advocates were recruited as Steering Committee Members (SCM) of the stakeholder collaborative (STK), however, two SCMs resigned from their positions due to family reasons and time commitments. One member was replaced by previously interviewed candidates and another was promoted from our lay STKs. Other applicants remain involved in a non-decision maker capacity as in-waiting STK members. Social media outreach and our online portal proved to be the most efficient recruitment and engagement strategies. On average, we received three new candidate applications after every social media post. Eleven stakeholders were recruited through social media. One stakeholder was recruited through the PCP network. Two churches promoted our flier in their newsletter but we did not receive any applications. Onsite recruiting from faith-based organizations was not feasible due to the ongoing global health crisis from COVID- 19. Discussion(s): Addressing racial disparities in congenital heart and interventional cardiology is challenging and requires a patient-centered approach to research. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we successfully built an 18-member ACHD patient collaborative of underrepresented minorities, employing a peer-to-peer strategy through a multi-faceted approach. Social media was the most successful approach especially in the absence of in-person gatherings, however, despite financial compensation for involvement, attrition due to personal reasons occurred. Current efforts are directed toward training the ACHD patient collaborative in basic research methods to serve as equal partners in patient-centered outcomes and comparative effectiveness research.

Exploring How Public Health Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) can be Leveraged for Health Promotion and Community Health.

The Academic Public Health Corps (APHC) works to support local public health in Massachusetts through varying models of collaboration. In the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic, one initiative of the APHC has been to partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) to address vaccine hesitancy and improve overall community health. The purpose of this article is to share how the APHC partnered with CBOs in Massachusetts to address COVID-19 concerns within their respective communities, and present strategies to empower communities, share resources, and increase health promotion. The APHC partnered with 2 CBOs who received the Massachusetts COVID-19 Community Grants distributed by Health Resources in Action (HRiA). These CBOs include the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects Massachusetts (AICP) and the Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education (SPACE). Culturally relevant educational and promotional materials were created and tailored toward the communities of interest within the CBOs. Additionally, in response to the community's desire for more informational events, the APHC hosted a virtual COVID-19 Q&A panel with Muslim health care professionals that included live Arabic translation. The model of outreach that the APHC has employed illustrates an intentional way of addressing key public health issues within local communities. The success of these partnerships highlights the importance of including CBOs in conversations about public health and health equity.