Kean Hosts Series on the Impact and Future of COVID-19

Kean University this week will launch its second virtual roundtable series on COVID-19 in partnership with lawmakers, health experts and community members from across New Jersey.

The eight-part series, COVID-19 and New Jersey’s Path Forward, will focus on policies and solutions as the state moves toward living with COVID-19. The series starts Friday, February 11 and will be livestreamed at 10 a.m. every Friday until April 1.

“The pandemic has influenced the way we work and practice our faith as well as highlighted the need for increased mental health support for our entire community,” Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., said. “By bringing together leading voices in a roundtable discussion format, we hope to offer valuable information and insight to help us all move forward collectively.”

Kean University conducted an initial round of panels last year to provide information on the facts and science surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. This year’s roundtable series comes as the coronavirus pandemic enters its third year, manifesting changes in many aspects and institutions of our lives. 

The first topic to be discussed, Strategically Planning our Path Forward, on February 11, outlines the broad issues surrounding COVID-19 now and sets the stage for the series to follow. It will feature Judith M. Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health; Donna M. Chiera, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey; Shawn McClain, president of the Elizabeth NAACP; and President Repollet.

The remaining panel topics will be as follows:

Faith Through the Pandemic: How Have Our Faith Communities Changed? (February 18)

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many institutions to make drastic changes in the way they operate. One community that was particularly affected was the faith-based community, which had to quickly adapt to online services and empty places of worship. This panel will discuss how those changes were implemented and will explore how faith leaders will move forward from the pandemic and what new tools might continue to be used to better connect with their community. 

The Future of Work in New Jersey (February 25)

The way people work has gone through a massive overhaul in the last two years. Many workplaces had to make rapid changes to their business models, including allowing employees to work from home, implementing vaccine and testing mandates and enacting increased health and safety protocols. They’ve done all of this with a shortage of workers in many industries. What have these changes done to the nature of work in New Jersey? With less commuting into New York and Philadelphia, what does the future of work in New Jersey look like? This panel will address those questions and more.

Supporting Women at Work and at Home (March 4)

Disrupted school schedules, the high cost of childcare and the unequal burden of family responsibilities have put a greater strain on women during this pandemic than ever before. Industries that historically have been powered by female workers were also some of the hardest hit in the pandemic. This panel discusses how these changes have affected the hard-working women of New Jersey and the best ways to support them going forward.  

Best Practices to Improve Mental Health (March 11)

The pandemic amplified the need for better mental health services and support across the state. This is especially true for children, whose mental health has been severely impacted by disrupted school schedules and various mandates during the pandemic. This panel will look at the best strategies to improve mental health for adults and children as the state moves forward.

Crossing the COVID-19 Finish Line for Student-Athletes (March 18)

Last year, guests on this roundtable series discussed how we would get student-athletes back on the field safely. Now, many athletes are back but not without disruptions. Last-minute cancellations, shifting schedules and teamwide outbreaks have changed the nature of the student-athlete experience. This panel will look at the current state of athletics and what can be done to improve the student-athlete experience going forward.  

Combating Opioid and Alcohol Addiction After COVID-19  (March 25) 

Due to isolation, worry and, in some cases, boredom, Americans have increased their consumption of alcohol and opioids during the past two years. This has led to a new addiction crisis. This panel will look at the ways that we can combat this silent epidemic in New Jersey and beyond. 

The Path Forward for our Urban Communities (April 1)

Urban communities were particularly hard hit during the pandemic, with some of the highest infection and death rates. Health equity and access continue to be issues that must be tackled to ensure that everyone has a chance to live life to their fullest potential. This panel will discuss the work our urban leaders have done to protect their residents and how they are working to spur economic opportunities in their communities for the future. 

Visit kean.edu/path-forward for a list of guests on each roundtable or to view each panel. Share questions and comments with #keancovidtalks.