YWCA of Asheville and WNC and Buncombe County Health and Human Services PresentLet’s Talk COVID-19: The Vaccine on Wednesday, January 27 from 5:30-6:30 PMThe YWCA of Asheville and WNC in partnership with Buncombe County Health and Human Services presents Let’s Talk COVID-19: The Vaccine, a two-part virtual town hall event committed to centering the historical and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) as it relates to the COIVD-19 pandemic. During the conversation, YWCA hosts, panelists, and the community explore what informs the root of broken trust between BIPOC populations and our medical systems. “Equity begins with trust,” says Zo Mpofu, Coordinator for the Buncombe County Community Health Improvement Process. “Understanding root causes of health disparities is at the core of our transformation work and is central to improving health for all.”“We see this community partnership as an opportunity to hold space for necessary conversations regarding Black, indigenous, and people of color seeking medical care in our nation. Our historical and contemporary realities cannot be missed or ignored if we want to see true change ” shares Diana Sierra, Interim CEO of the YWCA. This event will feature a diverse panel of local subject matter experts and community-based leaders, guaranteed to engage in lively discussion about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine distribution. Panelists will also examine collective efforts towards ensuring ethical care, inclusive access, and what restoration of trust can look like. Let’s Talk COVID-19: The Vaccine will be live-streamed on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m., in English on Buncombe County Government’s Facebook page and in Spanish on Buncombe County Health and Human Services’ Facebook page.