Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | September 27, 2021 | wbjournal.com Day of the Dead News staff in Central Mass. skews white, especially among newsroom leaders, impacting what stories are told and how BY MONICA BENEVIDES Worcester Business Journal Senior Staff Writer A day for the dead In remembering those lost to COVID, Worcester's Latino business community, during the upcoming Mexican holiday, aims to bring attention to the stark health and economic disparities laid bare by the pandemic A s Worcester businesses persist in their efforts to return to normal following the coronavirus pandemic, members of its Latino community are asking Worcester to reflect on the disproportionate losses felt by people of color in the city. "It's disconcerting as we move forward to where people think we're post-pandemic when we haven't addressed these root causes that cause some people in our community to be more affected than others," said Gina Plata-Nino, an attorney at Worcester nonprofit Community Legal Aid and a leader in the pandemic response effort Worcester Together coalition. In numbers reflected nationally and locally, the Latino community, which makes up 22% of Worcester's population, saw disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19, greater BY KATHERINE HAMILTON Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer barriers to accessing the vaccine, and larger percentages of business closures throughout the pandemic. Now, Plata-Nino and other Latino business and community leaders are working together to plan a celebration around the traditional Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos – or, Day of the Dead – observed on the first two days of November, which commemorates loved ones who have passed away. is year, Worcester's celebration, which will include a variety of events and a mural in City Hall, is particularly focused on highlighting the coronavirus pandemic's impact on Latinos. Challenges for Latino-owned businesses Health disparities are typically impacted by social determinants, such as access to housing, food security, education, and a multitude of other José Zuniga, owner of Tacos Mexico in Auburn, initially had a difficult time accessing COVID relief for businesses. PHOTO/MATT WRIGHT

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