Mayor Baraka Recognizes Choose Healthy Life
Newark Faith Community is Recognized for Being Major Contributor to Vaccinating Newark Residents
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Healthy Life Founder Debra Fraser-Howze acknowledged the major contribution of the Black clergy to vaccinate Newark residents against COVID-19. The mayor thanked Choose Healthy Life’s lead church Metropolitan Baptist Church, and its Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. David Jefferson Sr. Esq., along with all the pastors from Choose Healthy Life churches across the city. Choose Healthy Life launched in Newark last February with trained health navigators based in 10 churches across the city. These houses of worship, in collaboration with local healthcare providers, have hosted over 300 events, delivering testing and/or vaccinations to over 15,000 Newark residents in hard-to-reach communities. “The work of the Black clergy in our city has been a significant contributor to the success of our COVID-19 testing and vaccination program,” said Mayor Baraka. “Rather than asking our residents to come to a vaccination or testing site – our clergy brought testing and vaccination to the people.”
