
Southern Strong is a partnership of Southern organizations and scholars calling for an equity-centered, people-first response to COVID-19. Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the social and economic inequities shouldered by people of color and workers making low wages. Combating this public health threat and mitigating the economic fallout will require coordination among neighboring states and bolstering public services. Given the South’s history of poor, limited worker protections, and structural racism carried out by various discriminatory policies and practices, equitable and targeted access to these public resources must be a priority.
RESOURCES FOR YOUR TEAM
Learn how to get involved in South Strong, engage your community, and hold your elected leaders accountable. Browse, download and share our latest resources and tools!
- 2,300 Southern Voices Call for Help
- Access to Health Information for Non-English Speakers
- CARES Act Money
- Civil Justice
- Communication Costs in Prisons
- COVID Health Equity Task Force
- COVID Racial Disparities Task Force
- Equitable Taxes
- Equity Impact Assessment Tool
- Equity in Utility Regulation
- HBCUs
- Health Equity in COVID-19
- Juvenile Fines
- K-12 Education
- Medicaid Expansion
- Mental Health and Trauma Care
- Philanthropy
- Racism is a Public Health Crisis
- Rural Education & Broadband Connectivity
- Southern Voices: Quote Book
- State Office of Equity
- States Actions on Racial Equity in COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts
- Student Debt Crisis
- Unemployment Insurance
- Youth Policy in COVID-19
JOINT STATEMENT
We are a collection of Southern organizations and scholars seeking an equitable and people-first response to economic recovery in a post-pandemic South. Below is a statement of shared values for moving the South from crisis to equity.
JOINT STATEMENT: We have agreed to work together on a shared approach to make policymakers and stakeholders aware of and accountable for the social and economic inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic — one that is based on respect, dignity, equity, and justice.
While each of us launches our own efforts to promote actionable responses to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have agreed to the following principles as we affirm our Southern values.
COVID-19 does not adhere to local, state, or national boundaries. Communities must work together with government for a full picture of what’s happening on the ground and what improvements are needed. We understand the need for close coordination and collaboration to ensure that the response to COVID-19 is equitable, accountable, and transparent.