Author: Neil Schoenherr

Black Americans are dying of COVID-19 at much higher rates than whites, and nowhere more so than in St. Louis. This is the result of racist policies which collapsed the social safety net while setting blacks in the path of danger.

Missouri’s first black prosecutor ran on a promise to address the racial disparities in the criminal justice system. The people of St. Louis, the only majority-black jurisdiction in Missouri, elected Gardner to fulfill that promise. And now, some state legislators are trying to strip Gardner of her power and deny the people of St. Louis their voice.

Amid today’s pandemic, as many eagerly await a vaccine against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, here are five myths about this medical innovation.

Sheltering in place, black households have a unique window of opportunity to surpass the 2010 Census completion rate of less than 60% for the City of St. Louis.

Moving through a global pandemic has severely impacted every American, but maybe none more than older people. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on the deleterious effects of deep-seated ageism, sexism and racism on older Americans, suggests a new paper from the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at Washington University in St. Louis.

A new report from the Brown School’s Clark-Fox Policy Institute focuses on the impact that high-quality early childhood care and education can have on children, families and communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically brought home the issue’s importance.

Given the stigmatizing misconceptions surrounding these programs, many of those in need may be reluctant to use them. Here are five of the most common myths.

Child abuse and neglect hotlines around the country are reporting declines in calls over the last few weeks. While normally this would be welcome news, it does not bode well during stay-at-home orders, says an expert on child abuse and neglect at Washington University in St. Louis.

The Brown School’s Jason Purnell will lead a response team of over 40 St. Louis area nonprofits, social service agencies and governments to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 Regional Response team aims to help people navigate resources and get help with needs including employment, food, housing, child care and legal aid.

When the nation begins to turn attention to repair in the wake of this latest crisis, it’s essential to face this history to heal communities and address the many injustices that perpetuate health and other disparities.