Community inquires about solutions for coronavirus, violence at Speak Up and Speak Out forum

The coronavirus pandemic and violence within the community were on the minds of local residents who tuned into the annual Speak Up and Speak Out forum Saturday and asked questions of a panel of officials. Numerous topics were discussed during the two-hour forum, but those two topics were the subjects that seemed to draw the most questions. The event gives residents a chance to get answers to their questions from leaders in a variety of fields including government, health and social services. Lorain County Health Commissioner Mark Adams discussed the challenges of finding rapid COVID-19 tests, in response to a question about where the community can find testing kits. "We received notification on Wednesday that all of the shipments are being cut, not only to the health department but to the libraries, and they're going to be focusing all the kits that are coming in through Ohio to the schools," Adams said. He said in the next 10 to 14 days, there is supposed to be a shipment of 500 million rapid antigen tests that will leave the manufacturers and head out to be restocked. "If you wanted PCR, those are still available. There is plenty of that around, either at Lorain County Health & Dentistry or each of the pharmacies. You can make an appointment and go do that," Adams said. "But as far as the rapid test kits, those will not be replenished throughout the entire state of Ohio to the levels that they were at the beginning of December, late November until about two weeks." Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley and Elyria Mayor's Liaison Mark Ballard II were asked what is being done in their respective cities to crack down on gun violence. Bradley said Lorain is using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund 10 additional police officers in the city. It is part of a two-pronged approach alongside education, he said. It is important to "reach out to our youth and to get our youth involved in productive activities, to teach them about the dangers of acquiring a gun, having a gun and the consequences of being involved in a crime that involves a gun," Bradley said. Ballard said Elyria is "trying to provide outlets and spaces like mental health spaces, understanding that a lot of these frustrations or actions are a result of economic challenges, employment challenges, things like that." He said in addition to having police presence, the city formed a community group that meets at 4 p.m. on the first Friday of each month at the South Recreation Center. The aim of the meetings is to have talks about preventing ongoing situations of violence and things that negatively affect youths. "We're trying to be proactive instead of reactive to a lot of these situations, and do what we can," Ballard said. Addressing a question about the American Rescue Plan Act and how dollars are being spent, Ballard talked about community engagement and youth programs that are being performed, as well as at-home training for Elyria residents to do their jobs remotely. He also said Elyria is hoping to see a big new tenant move into Midway Mall this year. Although he declined to provide more details about the prospective tenant, he said it would be related to "health and wellness." Other topics discussed included public transportation, racial equity, mental health services, domestic violence, policing, education and more. Lorain Schools CEO Jeff Graham said the district's mask mandate has been well-received by parents, but some parents are concerned about sending their kids to school. "We have a couple different options. One is ready. The other, candidly, isn't, but will be in the next day or so," he said. One option is a full-online option through Lorain Schools and the Educational Service Center of Lorain County that will be a long-term commitment, Graham said. The district is also figuring out if they can put together "a hybrid model, a remote model that is a more short-term commitment," Graham said. The reason behind this is that some parents probably will be concerned while waiting to see the effects of the COVID-19 spike from the holiday season. Panelists included Adams, Bradley, Ballard, Graham, County Commissioner Matt Lundy, Lorain County MHARS Board Executive Director Michael Doud, Elyria-Oberlin NAACP Vice President Claudia Jones and Lorain NAACP President Earl Head. The moderator was Morning Journal Editor Darryl Tucker. The event was sponsored by the Lorain Club of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club and Lorain County Section of National Council of Negro Women. It was the 22nd edition of the annual event and the second consecutive year it was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357.