Vaccinating East Of Troost | Rep. Emanuel Cleaver

By Steve Kraske,

Zach Wilson, Danie Alexander, Reginald David

Published May 20, 2021 at 9:17 PM CDT

Valerie Chow, a retired anesthesiologist, finishes vaccinating a patient at Friendship Baptist Church in March. — The new federally funded initiative from Jackson County, Our Healthy KC Eastside, aims to meet people where they are at in order to bridge the divide in vaccination inequity.

The Our Healthy KC Eastside initiative will focus on outreach and vaccine distribution, and U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver offers his take on the latest events in Washington and Missouri.

Segment 1, beginning at 0:59: As the CDC adjusts its mask guidelines and restrictions around Kansas City are loosened, vaccination rates among residents of several city neighborhoods are incredibly low.

Some are as low as 15%, and Black and brown communities are disproportionately impacted. To address the issue, Jackson County's legislature has dedicated $5 million of CARES Act funds towards getting vaccines distributed in six Kansas city zip codes through the Our Healthy KC Eastside program.

Dr. Jannette Berkley-Patton, professor at the UMKC School of Medicine and director of the university’s Community Health Research Group
Rev. Eric Williams, pastor at Calvary Temple Baptist Church

Segment 2, beginning at 26:28: The U.S. House has approved a bill to create an independent commission that would investigate the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Missouri's 5th District U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver breaks down his stance on that legislation, the refusal of the Missouri legislature to fund voter approved Medicaid expansion and the cancellation of federal jobless benefits in his home state.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, (D-MO)

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Zach Wilson

As Up To Date’s senior producer, I construct daily conversations that give our listeners context to the issues of our time. I strive to provide a platform that holds those in power accountable, while also spotlighting the voices of Kansas City’s creatives and visionaries that may otherwise go unheard. Email me at zach@kcur.org.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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Reginald David

As an assistant producer on Up To Date, my goal is to amplify voices of people who serve as pioneers in their respective fields while shedding light on issues that affect underserved communities. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. You can reach me at reginalddavid@kcur.org.

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