The Santa Barbara County Latinx and Indigenous Migrant COVID-19 Task Force (also referred to as the Task Force) was established in April 2020 with the goal of equitably responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Santa Barbara, particularly among populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 such as communities of color and undocumented immigrants in the farming and agricultural industries. The Task Force was convened by the Santa Barbara Public Health Department (SBPHD) and was co-founded by Dr. Van Do Reynoso, Former Director of the SBPHD, and Dr. Melissa Smith, Director of UC Santa Barbara Health Equity Initiatives and Associate Director of the UCGHI Center for Gender and Health Justice with funding from the SBPHD and the Santa Barbara County Foundation Roundtable.
The Task Force made several noteworthy accomplishments. First, it was one of the largest cross-sector coalitions in Santa Barbara County with over 130 local organizations contributing to the Task Force to ensure it was responsive to the unique needs of the most historically marginalized community members in Santa Barbara County during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Task Force helped coordinate efforts to distribute COVID-19 PPE, as well as health, well-being, and vaccine information and resources to thousands of people in Santa Barbara County. Moreover, the Task Force helped to create new community-informed policies guided by health equity at the Santa Barbara Public Health Department and the County government. Rooted in Language Justice, the Task Force provided language interpretation in English, Spanish, and some Mixtec variants in its organizing activities.
In recognition of its impactful work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Task Force was awarded a Merit Award for Disaster/Emergency Response and Management in 2021 through the California State Association of Counties. According to the California State Association of Counties, these awards are given to “recognize the innovative and creative spirit of our California Counties as they find innovative, effective, and cost-saving ways to provide programs and services to their citizens.”
Multidisciplinary Engagement and Student Voices
The work of the Task Force has been bolstered by the enthusiastic participation of UCGHI Student Ambassadors. From 2020-2023, UCGHI Student Ambassadors Baljot Chahal (UC Santa Barbara), Sean Sugai (UCLA), Maïte Delneuville (UC San Diego), and Daniella Lee (UC Santa Barbara) contributed their diverse skills and knowledge to various aspects of the Task Force through participation in the UCGHI Center for Gender and Health Justice’s Summer Internship Opportunities Program. The wide range of disciplines, including Environmental Studies, Human Biology, Anthropology, and Global Health were instrumental in several key areas, such as participation in the virtual Task Force meetings, assisting with administrative and data support, and engaging in front line advocacy.
Dr. Smith praised the students for their dedication and impact. “The students brought so much passion to support health equity efforts during the pandemic, each one contributing unique gifts and skills that together were very impactful. We are grateful for their dedication to this collaborative work with our Task Force community partners.”
Students shared their motivations for participating in the work of the Task Force. Former UCGHI Student Ambassador and current master’s in public health student at UC Irvine, Baljot Chahal, supported the Task Force when she was an undergraduate student at UC Santa Barbara. She stated, “When I joined the Latinx and Indigenous Migrant COVID-19 Task Force, I saw the urgent needs the team addressed and how quickly situations would change. Overall, I am very grateful to have been a part of a collaborative team that centered health equity through community partnerships.”
When reflecting on his role in the Task Force, former UCGHI Student Ambassador and UCLA undergraduate student, Sean Sugai, emphasized that the work was a team effort as he “found a community among the researchers, community members, and his fellow interns.”
Future Directions
The collaborative efforts between the Santa Barbara County Latinx and Indigenous Migrant COVID-19 Task Force members and the UCGHI Student Ambassadors highlight the importance of community engagement and the value of including student voices and interdisciplinary approaches in addressing urgent public health crises. The Task Force ultimately set an influential example in how to develop true and inclusive community-based partnerships to respond collaboratively to pressing health equity concerns while allowing space to recognize and dismantle historical and contemporary injustices. Community organizations, research centers, and government agencies can use the Task Force’s work as a blueprint to tackle future public health crises as well as including UC students to learn how to develop community-engaged crisis response efforts. As we continue to navigate the current public health landscape on the heels of a pandemic, the Task Force and UCGHI remain committed to providing space and opportunities for UC students to play a crucial role in shaping a healthier and more equitable future for all.