In response to the devastating impact COVID-19 continues to have on the African American community, Burrell Communications Group has released a video PSA entitled “For Jason” as part of its “Black is Human” initiative.
The PSA pays tribute to Detroit Transit Authority veteran, Jason Hargrove, who died in late March from COVID 19 complications after posting an impassioned plea for public safety via (Facebook) social media.
The video quickly went viral, garnering more than 805,000 views and 23,000 reshares as it brought national attention to the dire need for all essential workers to be armed with personal protective equipment.
According to the McKinsey & Company report, COVID-19: Investing in Black Lives and Livelihoods, 39% of jobs held by Black workers (seven million jobs in all) are vulnerable as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, compared with 34% for White workers.
The majority of Black workers, by the very nature of their jobs, are putting their lives and health on the line to provide necessary goods and services to our society.
“Black is Human” is the Burrell Communications Group community engagement platform created to uplift and empower the underserved in African American communities.
The award-winning marketing communications agency is based in Chicago, where a group of 1,000 youth were recently captured on video, partying in close quarters at a local house and were not practicing social distancing, which in return puts the life of their family members in jeopardy when they return home.
Lewis Williams, Burrell EVP/Chief Creative Officer is the driving force behind this campaign, which was launched with the blessing of Mrs. Hargrove.
The agency’s goal is to stress the importance of safety as well as raise awareness of the need to provide our essential workers with much-needed personal protective equipment.
Burrell Communications Group has spent nearly 49 years curating targeted creative and community relations programs for major brands like McDonald’s U.S.A, Toyota Motors North America, Walmart, Comcast and more.
The “For Jason” PSA is needed more than ever and will be distributed across top-tier African American broadcast and digital media outlets, including TV One, Black News Channel, Revolt TV, iOne, Rolling Out and Bounce TV.
The campaign’s goal is to raise awareness of the severity of COVID-19 within the African American community and provide streamlined access to critical and relevant information, via the Black is Human webpage.
The loss of a black boy is a loss for America. http://t.co/XJSWCHvqkf #BlackisHuman
— Black is Human (@BlackisHuman) February 4, 2015
In an additional effort to support those most severely impacted by this global pandemic, Burrell will provide grocery deliveries to long-time community partner, Primo Center.
Primo Center is a leader in providing family shelter, permanent supportive housing and other services to homeless families in the south and west sides of Chicago, including North Lawndale, Englewood, and Auburn Gresham. This week, 64 households –providing shelter for 191 children in the Chicago area – will receive a generous donation of healthy foods and other supplies, courtesy of the agency.
“We are proud to support those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and hope that other industry leaders will join us in our mission to provide much-needed resources to vulnerable communities,” says Fay Ferguson, Co-CEO, Burrell Communications Group.
If interested in supporting the “For Jason” campaign, please follow and like the Black is Human Twitter and Facebook pages and share the video. If interested in supporting the “For Jason” campaign, please follow and like the Black is Human Twitter and Facebook pages and share the video.
For more information on the Black is Human initiative, please visit: www.blackishuman.com
