The virtual town hall “How’s Your Health? Staying Healthy and Whole Through Covid 2.0,” was co-sponsored by the Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research. Scroll down to see the speakers’ bios, as well as a list of resources and statistics to refer to after the discussion.
New York City Resources
For New York City residents, the COVID-19 Citywide Information Portal is a good starting place for resources relating to physical health, mental health, food, housing assistance, employment and school equipment needs.
The NYC Department of Health is another key resource for COVID-19 guidance and updates.
To receive immediate alerts on mobile devices, consider signing up for Notify NYC, the city’s official source for emergency information.
The NYC Department of Education has a COVID Information page to inform you about the latest guidelines and procedures, how to get your child tested or obtain an at-home kit, and where COVID-19 cases have been reported in the public school system.
If you are finding it tough to cope right now and need to talk to someone, reach out to NYC Well to talk, text or chat with a mental health counselor. It’s free and confidential. Their website also contains a mental wellness app library and lists additional services you can use.
General Mental Health and Wellness
New York State has set up a special COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline. Anyone experiencing mental or emotional distress related to the coronavirus emergency can call 1-844-863-9314 between 8:00AM and 10:00PM, 7 days a week.
The New York City Department of Aging has two programs for addressing the social isolation that can happen to seniors during the pandemic and beyond: the Friendly Visiting Program and the Friendly Voices Program. Right now they are operating virtually, but will resume in-person visits in June. Call Aging Connect at 1-212-244-6469 for more information.
The Steve Fund is dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. TEXT STEVE to 741741 to access a culturally trained Crisis Text Line counselor.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for people and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. They provide referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. at 800-273-TALK (8255).
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has expert advocates who are available 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone in the U.S. who is experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Reports
- CBC Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health: Ring the Alarm
- FPWA: Ending the Poverty to Prison Pipeline
- McSilver: Resources for Coping with and Understanding the Impact of Trauma, Stress and COVID-19
- McSilver Testifies to NY State Assembly About COVID-19 Mental Health Impacts
About the Speakers
Nanette Alexander-Thomas, MD, FACP, FACR
Nanette Alexander-Thomas, MD is the Medical Director of Ambulatory Care at Brookdale University Medical Center (BUMC) where she supervises the clinical care of a bustling ambulatory program with over 65,000 visits/year, as well as Occupational Health Services. During her tenure, quality scores for both Medicaid and Medicare patients and Access to Care and Appointment Availability have improved.Dr. Alexander-Thomas worked for over a decade in Long Term Care management where she served as the system medical director for St Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center and VillageCare, before returning to Ambulatory Care as the medical director for an FQHC in Brooklyn, and then as Director of Ambulatory Care at Woodhull Medical Center, part of NYC Health + Hospitals.
Creating an environment that welcomed broad discourse, exchange of ideas and focus on mission has led to improved quality scores, improved patient and provider satisfaction, and a comfortable, welcoming work environment. With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the change in dynamic has put more emphasis on supporting the work and needs of the front line staff and maintaining their safety. As a consummate administrator, she has delivered substantial contributions in leadership, teaching and management.
Dr. Alexander-Thomas has received awards in Excellence in Teaching, the American College of Physician’s Preceptorship Award, named “One of Brooklyn’s Best Doctors”, as well as having written numerous publications and made numerous presentations at national meetings. Apart from her administrative duties, Dr Alexander-Thomas is a rheumatologist with special interest in rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
She received her BA in Biology from New York University, having achieved the distinction as the youngest graduate in the university’s history. Her MD was received at Boston University School of Medicine and her fellowship in rheumatology was completed at SUNY Downstate.
Marilyn D. Davis
Marilyn D. Davis is a political strategist specializing in advocacy. She has honed her political skills while working for both the federal and state governments, organized labor, electoral and issue campaigns, and in Corporate America. Currently, Ms. Davis works in the telecommunications industry as a government affairs director.Previously, Ms. Davis worked at the Democratic National Committee as the national director of Community Engagement until December 2016. She led a team of nine individuals responsible for engaging stakeholders in the African American, Hispanic, AAPI, Jewish, LGBT, youth, women, ethnics, veterans, rural, and small business communities as well as organized labor in electoral politics and civic engagement.
She served in the Obama/Biden Administration as a political appointee at the United States Department of Labor. As the deputy director of the office of Public Engagement, Ms. Davis managed labor and African American engagement.
She was also the president and chief executive officer of the consulting firm, Davis & Associates, LLC. As a consultant, Ms. Davis specialized in campaign management, fundraising, political strategy, organizing, and community outreach.
The 2016 Presidential cycle marked the fourth presidential campaign where Ms. Davis worked to secure a democratic victory. In 2000, she was the constituency director for the New Jesrsey Victory 2000 Coordinated Campaign. She also served as the Wisconsin Political Director for John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaig. In 2012, Ms. Davis was a consultant to the Obama for America campaign in Florida.
Davis has also served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA-37), and deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and deputy chief of staff to former Governor Jon Corzine. She received her B.A. from the University of South Carolina and pursued graduate studies at Howard University.
Rev. Margarett Elaine McCollins Flake, D. Min.
Long recognized as a powerful preacher, teacher and role model with a gift for reaching worshippers of all ages, the Reverend Margaret Elaine M. Flake has been impacting the many lives she touches at The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in New York City, where she serves as co-pastor with the Reverend Floyd H. Flake until May, 2020. Upon the retirement of Dr. Floyd Flake, she received an appointment as Senior Pastor. She continues to dedicate her life to the betterment of others by leading in Christian education, evangelistic, and outreach ministries.Fondly called “Reverend Elaine” by the GAC congregation, she and her husband founded the Allen Christian School in 1982. She was also instrumental in developing the Allen Women’s Resource Center, which houses women and children who are victims of domestic violence. She acts as Advisor to the Missionary Department, and many of the other ministries at Allen, and as Advisor/Coordinator of the Allen Women’s Ministry Department. Each year over 1,000 women from across the country and the Caribbean attend the retreats she hosts. Reverend Elaine has played a crucial role in increasing the membership of The Greater Allen A.M.E Cathedral to over fifteen thousand. She mentors many male and female leaders in the New York City area and is frequently invited to speak throughout the country.
Dr. Flake is the author of the popular book, God In Her Midst: Preaching Healing to Hurting Women and has contributed to The Women of Color Study Bible, and Souls of My Sisters: Black Women Break Their Silence, Tell Their Stories, and Heal Their Spirits. She and her husband, the Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake authored two books, Practical Virtues: Everyday Values and Devotions for African American Families Learning to Live With All Our Souls published by Harper Collins and African American Church Management Handbook, published in 2005 by Judson Press.
Dr. Flake earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received a Master of Arts Degree in English from Boston University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She was awarded the Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary of Dayton, Ohio. She has received numerous citations and awards. Most recently, The Distinguished Alumni Award was conferred upon her by Union Seminar, and in March, 2017, she was inducted onto Morehouse College’s “Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers.” She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; The Links, Incorporated; and the National Council of Negro Women.
Dr. Donna Jones
Donna Jones is a passionate leader who has devoted her life to her family, profession, philanthropic endeavors and her spiritual growth. She has worked in the field of education for more than twenty-eight years in positions ranging from accountant to superintendent of schools. She currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Patchogue Medford School District in Suffolk County where she strives daily to improve the learning experiences for students and staff members as she continues to foster strong relationships with the community. She is responsible for the management and supervision of the daily operations of the 7,500 student school district.Donna balances her busy career with rewarding philanthropic work. She has been a proud member of the Greater New York Chapter of the Links, Incorporated for thirteen years and is currently serving in her fourth year as the President of the Chapter. She spends countless hours of service, providing programs and supports to the marginalized, oppressed and underserved communities locally and internationally.
Donna is an active member of the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral where she has served as a Trustee for more than fifteen years, spearheading many projects in that time. She is the proud mother of four lovely daughters and four beautiful grandchildren whom she loves dearly. During her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and traveling around the world.
Donna holds a Doctorate in Education, a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She has been honored by numerous organizations throughout Long Island. She is a lifelong learner who never runs away from challenges, but embraces them with confidence, perseverance and determination.
Michael A. Lindsey, PhD, MSW, MPH
Dr. Michael A. Lindsey is a noted scholar in the fields of child and adolescent mental health, as well as a leader in the search for knowledge and solutions to generational poverty and inequality. He is the Executive Director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University (NYU), the Constance and Martin Silver Professor of Poverty Studies at NYU Silver School of Social Work, and an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow. He also leads a university-wide Strategies to Reduce Inequality initiative from the NYU McSilver Institute.Dr. Lindsey has been appointed Dean of the NYU Silver School of Social Work, starting July 1, 2022.
At the NYU McSilver Institute, Dr. Lindsey leads a team of researchers, clinicians, social workers and other professionals who are committed to creating new knowledge about the root causes of poverty, developing evidence-based interventions to address its consequences, and rapidly translating their findings into action through policy and best practices.
Additionally, he leads the working group of experts supporting the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, which created the report Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) in Social Work and Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. He was also appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin serving on the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) in 2022.
Dr. Lindsey serves on the editorial boards of the following journals: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Psychiatric Services and School Mental Health.
He holds a PhD in social work and MPH from the University of Pittsburgh, an MSW from Howard University, and a BA in sociology from Morehouse College.