Connie Dang, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and special assistant for Inclusive Community Outreach, is one of 23 people appointed to a COVID-19 task force by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer on April 20 appointed a statewide task force to act in an advisory capacity and study the causes and impact of racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths and illnesses.
Dang said the pandemic has exposed deep-seated racial inequalities that disproportionally hurt Blacks and other communities of color in Michigan.
In Michigan, African Americans represent 13.6 percent of state residents yet 40 percent of the number of people who have died from the coronavirus, according to state figures.
"Yes, we are in this together but the pain is not shared equally," Dang said. "I look forward to being part of this important opportunity to develop and implement actions in ways that remove systemic barriers and close the disparity gap for communities of color."
Dang served two terms on the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, from 2009-2017, and remains an active alumna of the commission.
The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities is chaired by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. Read more about the task force here.
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