Vital Signs: Be the Change
Vital Signs: Be the Change
A Call to Action in the Midst of the Pandemic
Black Lives Matter Rally, Victoria Park, Summer 2020. Photo by Gabe Ramos.
The year 2020 was a year of disruption, social upheaval and change, but also a year of strength and resiliency. Now, imagine the possibilities if we channelled that energy for good? That’s the message of LCF’s latest Vital Signs report: Be the Change.
While our community had its challenges prior to the pandemic, this year’s Vital Signs report tells us that our community can only be as strong as its most vulnerable member, and right now too many people are being left behind.
The global crisis brought our most pressing issues into sharp focus. Having a safe place to call home, secure employment, and access to basic needs like food were out of reach for many.
This year’s report examines six issues that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic – housing, racial equality, gender equality, health and well-being, food security and education. These issues are not new for London, but the pandemic has magnified their severity.
“COVID-19 exacerbated many of our community’s deeply entrenched inequalities,” says Dr. Jerry White, Vital Signs Chair and LCF board member. “Through our LCF COVID-19 Response Fund, we identified these areas as being the hardest hit.”
The statistics from this year’s report are sobering. Over 5,000 Londoners are on the waitlist for rent-geared-to-income housing, one in seven households worry about putting food on the table, and 18% of Londoners live in poverty. Moreover, gender-based violence and hate crimes are on the rise, and our most diverse and marginalized communities suffer a greater risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
These are no doubt complex issues that will require collaborative, community-wide solutions. However, one thing made clear in this report is that despite the grim reality, there is hope.
Dr. White says, “The pandemic taught us that even when we are confronted with significant fear and anxiety, we have the ability to change the systems and practices that do not work equally for everyone in London and Middlesex County.”
Be the Change acts as a roadmap for change, offering concrete solutions to addressing these longstanding inequities. By empowering the voices of local leaders and changemakers, this report inspires everyone to think about how they can make a positive impact on our community.
To learn more visit: bethechangelondon.ca
“The health and well -being of our community is something we’re all responsible for...This is an urgent call to action. We need to encourage our friends, neighbours and fellow community members to consider how they can make London and Middlesex County a better place to live, work, and grow together."
– Dr. Jerry White