Many organizations are putting forth an effort to get more people vaccinated. An Illinois arts group is working with 24 regions across the state to help increase the COVID-19 vaccination rate this summer.
Erick Deshaun Dorris is the director of community organizing for Arts Alliance Illinois. He said COVID-19 has the art community devastated.
“We know that the science is clear that -- in order for folks to safely gather and enjoy art -- we need to protect our communities and our immunocompromised members of our community,” he said. “We need folks to get vaccinated so they can come back to arts venues and spaces and places.”
Dorris says he believes artists can move the needle on Illinois vaccination rates.
“We just need kind of different and more distinct voices. Usually, those are artists and influencers and creatives who can convince these target communities of unvaccinated folks to get the vaccine. So that's our hope," he explained.
The campaign is called Vax to Get Back. Some participating cities include Aurora, Champaign, Elgin, Joliet and Rockford.
More information can be found at artsalliance.org.
