Up To Date

Kansas City Health Workers Are Knocking On Doors

By Steve Kraske,

Published July 31, 2021 at 2:23 PM CDT

Ways To Subscribe

A six-story office building with a glass front and black brick sides with large letters spelling Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center across the front. — The Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center has been providing health care to Kansas City, Missouri, residents since 1968.

Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center workers are in neighborhoods to talk with residents one on one.

Despite creative advocacy efforts, the full vaccination rate in Kansas City, Missouri, is only 39%. So the health center is going old school, knocking on doors to answer questions about and offer help to residents wanting to be vaccinated.

"A lot of people just want to be heard and have their concerns addressed" says Catherine A. Wiley, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Samuel U. Health Center.

Rory Kirk, Community Advocate at Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
Catherine A. Wiley, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Samuel U. Health Center

Tags

Up To Date vaccines Coronavirus public health community Samuel Rodgers Health Center Podcast

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.

See stories by Steve Kraske

Trevor Grandin

Trevor Grandin is a contributing producer for KCUR Studios.

See stories by Trevor Grandin

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.

See stories by Reginald David