Health Promoters Boost Vaccine Confidence in Minnesota

In keeping with its mission to support Latin American families in Minnesota, Communities Organizing Latino Power and Action(COPAL) put in place a volunteer-driven Promotoras d Salud (Health Promoters) program, in part to share accurate information about COVID-19 and increase vaccine confidence among the Latino community. Mara Lopez, a well-trusted community leader in the rural town of Madelia, was one of the first to join the program. Since training as a Health Promoter, Lopez has used her leadership position both to better educate community members about COVID-19, and to bolster participation in the Health Promoter program. When one family in Madelia became ill in September 2022, Lopez helped procure COVID tests and then provided guidance for treatment. “We didn’t hesitate to call Mara,” said Yessenia Bruno. “We know she is a community leader and a Health Promoter who helps.”