Using an Equity Lens to Identify Vulnerable Community Needs in the Pandemic

One year after COVID forced a city-wide lockdown, the Mayor called for the creation of a Pandemic Response Institute to respond more rapidly in addressing future health threats. Public Good Consulting was brought in by Dalberg through a contract with NYC Economic Development Corporation to facilitate and lead focus groups and interviews with stakeholders from hard-hit neighborhoods throughout NYC the goal of identifying specific interventions that worked well and what was needed.

How should NYC improve health equity during emergencies?

• What worked well during NYC’s response to COVID-19?

• Are there interventions that the City should continue to invest in?

• What have been the biggest challenges in communities hardest hit?

• How can the City’s leaders and stakeholders build more trust among NYC’s Black, Latinx, Asian, Immigrant and low-income communities?

These are some questions we posed to community advocates, CBO leaders and residents through a series of focus groups, interviews and surveys throughout the City in 2021. We were hired by Dalberg Advisors on behalf of NYC Economic Development Corp. to inform the City’s health leaders in developing a Pandemic Response Institute.