Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL)

Building a Healthier Community through Artistic Expression

A digital artwork piece created by JACL.

The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) launched the Jamaica Vaxxscene initiative to commission visual, performing, and literary artists to promote the safety, efficacy, and necessity of vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza in their Southeast Queens neighborhood of New York City. The  projects included an animated series for younger viewers and an expressive tile painting workshop for seniors. Though JCAL staff member Hernan Mery was not one of the commissioned artists, he was inspired by conversations he had with Wendy Berot, Manager of Special Projects and Programming, to create a digital art piece (pictured) based on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare professionals. These diverse and creative projects challenged participants to consider health equity and the importance of everyone having a fair and equal opportunity to access critical services like vaccines. “The fact that we’re even here three years deep into the pandemic is a blessing in and of itself,” wrote Chidiogo Igboekwe, a young woman who participated in a journaling project created through the initiative. “Where equity comes in is realizing that the amount of support needed may differ from person to person and from community to community.”


Funding for this effort is made possible through a subaward from the CDC Foundation and is part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) financial assistance award totaling $2,500,000.00 with 100 percent funding from CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.

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