Community Voices on COVID-19

By Chanel Stitt on MLive April 14, 2020

YPSILANTI, MI -- A series of videos featuring prominent Ypsilanti community figures seeks to encourage residents to stay home during the coronavirus outbreak. The series is part of the Ypsi Can I Share? discussion group.

The video project is led by community activist Bryan Foley, who wants to target the age group between 24 and 39. Foley has a goal of making sure that African Americans in the Ypsilanti community hear encouraging messages.

“We’re just closed in," said Foley. "School, jobs and businesses are closed. The depression is real.

“Our people can get the mentality that this is the end of the world. We need to give hope that if we just follow the suggested guidelines, then we can get through this.”

The videos feature Ypsilanti Mayor Pro-Tem Lois Richardson, Rev. George Waddles Jr., attorney Erane Washington, farmer Melvin Parson, Tony Warren of the Funkateers and rapper Kid Jay.

“One of the things that I see is we’re not reaching all people, and all people should be reached in a manner in which they can understand,” said Gail Summerhill, founder of Ypsi Can I Share.

Summerhill said not everyone in the community has been exposed to complete information about how severe the coronavirus is. That’s where the Ypsi Can I Share group comes in with a focus on reaching African Americans.

The Washtenaw County Health Department reports that African Americans make up 47 percent of coronavirus hospitalizations in the county. In Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township, the 48197 and 48198 ZIP codes hold 45 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Foley said that in the beginning of the outbreak, he didn’t take the spread of the illness seriously. It wasn’t until family members and friends tested positive for the new coronavirus that he understood the severity of the threat. Some have even died, he said. He felt he needed to become part of the solution.

“Believe the hype, because it’s not hype – it’s reality,” Foley said. “I probably know 20 people who have been affected by the virus in Ypsilanti.”

Video interviews will continue to be posted on the Ypsi Can I Share social media pages as Foley reaches out to more community leaders.

AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MAYOR LOIS RICHARDSON CITY OF YPSILANTI ABOUT COVID-19