Doug McCrory

Senator McCrory Hold Digital Conversation on Impact of COVID-19 On the Black Community, and Racial Justice

State Senator Doug McCrory (D-Hartford) hosted ‘We Need To Talk, Brother2Brother,’ a digital conversation between several Black community leaders with backgrounds in business, education, healthcare, and advocacy. The conversation provided an open forum for the panelists to share their perspective on recent events – the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Black community, and racial injustice in the United States – and how it has personally affected themselves.

“I have known most of the panelists for years and appreciate them offering their perspectives in an honest, nuanced conversation on how the COVID-19 pandemic and murder of George Floyd relate to the broader racial injustice in our country,” said Sen. McCrory. “We must turn this moment into a movement and that entails listening to the voices of those marginalized on how we can achieve long-term reform.”

During the conversation, panelists spoke on a range of issues including supporting Black-owned businesses, encouraging more Black Americans to enter the teaching profession, and systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

The panelists joining Sen. McCrory for the conversation, were in alphabetical order:

• Demetrius Chamblee, Owner of Madams Beauty Supply
• Reggy Eadie, M.D., M.B.A.; President & CEO of Trinity Health of New England
• Alex Flowers, Community Activist
• Dana Forrester, Co-Owner of Ronn & Dane DJing & Event Service
• Stephen Higgins, Vice Principal at Windsor Public Schools, Member of BLAC
• Alphonso McGriff, III; Motivational Speaker and Hartford Cosmetologist
• Abdul-Rahmaan I. Muhammad, LMSW; Executive Director of My People Clinical Services/My People Community Services

The conversation is available on Sen. McCrory’s Facebook page.