New Level Sports Ministries will source and distribute PPE supplies in the Historic Battle Creek Washington Heights neighborhood as part of the statewide Rapid Response Initiative
Battle Creek, Michigan – November – Battle Creek nonprofit, New Level Sports Ministries (NLSM) was awarded over $200,000 in state funding through the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) and educational material to the historic Battle Creek Washington Heights neighborhood. Washington Heights is home to 60 percent of Battle Creek’s black population, the demographic most affected by COVID-19. The majority of residents have limited access to quality PPE, and struggle with rising unemployment, poverty and lack of access to healthcare. PPE will be provided by STEWART Industries, a long-standing African American-owned business under the Healthy Battle Creek campaign.
“Many Battle Creek organizations have worked throughout the pandemic to deliver as much coronavirus relief funding as possible, despite limited resources,” said Pastor Chris McCoy (bottom of article), executive director of New Level Sports Ministries. “The funding provided through the Rapid Response Initiative will save lives in our community by providing much-needed PPE to families, especially during the holidays which could become super spreader gatherings.”
The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force was created per Executive Order 2020-55, to study the causes of racial disparities and recommend actions to address the historical and systemic inequities. The Rapid Response Initiative was created, under the task force, to implement a rapid response strategy to mediate the impact of service gaps and special needs that can be addressed in 120 days.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color in Michigan,” said Erick Stewart, president of STEWART Industries. “African Americans represent nearly 14 percent of the state’s population, yet they represent 40 percent of the deaths from coronavirus. Our community is literally dying due to lack of resources and access to care. The NLSM Healthy Battle Creek campaign will save lives through the distribution of PPE with the help of key community partners.”
New Level Sports Ministries, partners and stakeholders, upon receiving funds, will finalize strategic community partnerships with economic development partners, and the larger ministry community to ensure success. STEWART Industries is assembling 1,200 initial PPE Resource Kits to be delivered prior to Thanksgiving. The kits include 3-ply disposable masks, disinfectant wipes, sanitizer, gloves and more.
The first round of kits will be distributed Saturday, November 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at New Level Sports Ministries, 400 Michigan Ave. West, Battle Creek, MI 49037. Anyone picking up a kit on the 21st is asked to wear a mask and to socially distance. Please call NLSM at 269.964.4172 with questions.
In partnership with The Black 14 Philanthropy and Latter-day Saint Charities, an estimated 40,000 pounds of food which was donated earlier in the week to New Level Sports Ministries will also be distributed along with the PPE kits to those families and individuals with food needs.
“Connecting and partnering with residents of Washington Heights is the most crucial piece. Ultimately, we can ensure successful project execution by delivering on our partnerships with at-risk individuals, who need access to PPE, and young students, who will need virtual learning resources,” said McCoy.
The Healthy Battle Creek community wide campaign will be managed by NLSM and community partners. Organizers are hoping the Battle Creek campaign will become a model for other cities to address racial and health disparities and systemic inequities.
For those interested in supporting Healthy Battle Creek, go to www.healthybattlecreek.org for more information.
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New Level Sports Ministries
New Level Sports Ministries, created in 2001, offers programming for youth, including athletics and academic tutoring. The organization has served over 10,000 urban youth and launched the program YouthVillage in 2016 with the purpose of training young adults in business, entrepreneurship, development, cultural and community planning and personal growth development while also providing a physical location for gathering.
THE CORONAVIRUS RACIAL DISPARITIES TASK FORCE RAPID RESPONSE TEAM INITIATIVE
Projects that apply a health equity lens to serve a broad population with shared needs 2. Community-driven responses that meet vital service gaps or tangible needs 3. most importantly, projects that are “shovel ready” meaning all expenditures can be made and deliverables completed by year-end. These efforts will also be used to elevate promising practices that can be documented and scaled in other communities.
