The Baltimore Community Foundation, which connects a diverse community of donors to build a better Baltimore, is proud to welcome Kiara Mayhand, a Ph.D. student at Johns Hopkins as its first Public Health Fellow. Kiara received her Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology & Health Analytics from The College of New Jersey, where she also gained experience in board support and financial reporting. In her role at BCF, Kiara will lead efforts to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in groups and communities where vaccine adoption is low. This specifically includes individuals age 18 – 34 in Latinx and African-American communities in Baltimore City and County. Activities will include grants to trusted community-based partners, adapted messaging for target communities to combat mis/disinformation, and the engagement of credible messengers and media sources.
Kiara’s work is made possible by a $900,000 grant from the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) via Michigan State University, which is home to the National Network to Innovate for COVID and Adult Vaccine Equity (NNICE) program. Grant activities are expected to continue through June and Kiara will remain on staff through September 2022 to compile results, analyze the project’s impact and share outcomes with other researchers across the country.
“Everything about this pandemic is a brave new world for us,” says BCF President & CEO Shanaysha Sauls, “and this grant was likewise unexpected. But the issue was too important to refuse. We are thrilled to be tapped to leverage our local knowledge and regional networks to better protect communities that have been disparately impacted by COVID.”
Says Kiara “I’m so grateful and excited to be a part of such meaningful work in Baltimore. BCF presents the opportunity to meet local grassroots organizations where they are, with the financial support and resources needed to really push the needle and combat vaccine hesitancy in the community. I’m looking forward to all the creative and impactful projects that will come out of this grant opportunity.”
About BCF
For nearly 50 years, the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) has connected people who are passionate about their city and purposeful in their philanthropy. BCF amplifies donors’ philanthropy with strategic grants, impact investments, special initiatives, and advocacy to strengthen schools and neighborhoods. Visit www.bcf.org to discover meaningful giving, invest your funds wisely, and join a diverse community working for a better Baltimore.
