Black-owned Pharmacy Gets a Boost in East Durham

Communities in Partnership sought to host local, equity-focused vaccination clinics, reaching their BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) neighbors in East Durham, North Carolina. They partnered with Russell’s Pharmacy, a Black-owned independent pharmacy struggling with a decline in customers due to the pandemic and competition with large medical systems and pharmacy chains. Russell’s Pharmacy handled the clinical side of the organization’s vaccination events and served as a community resource. The Communities in Partnership collaboration boosted Russell’s Pharmacy’s visibility and capacity. They are now busy providing vaccinations in their storefront, and people also see them as a community resource that can meet their health care needs and health product needs.