JMU professors receive 4-VA grant to study Spanish-speaking communities’ COVID experiences
Diana Galarreta-Aima, Carlos Alemán, Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, and Tobias Reynolds-Tylus have received a 4-VA grant for their project on “COVID-19 and Central Shenandoah Valley Spanish-Speaking Communities: Exploring Impact and Perceptions of COVID Toward Enhanced Rapid Response Health Communication and Care.” Galarreta-Aima is a professor of Spanish. Alemán, Martinez Gonzalez, and Reynolds-Tylus are professors of Communication Studies.
Alarmed by the fact that Latinos comprise 10% of Virginia’s population and 45% of the state’s COVID-19 cases, 35% of COVID-related hospitalizations, and 11% of COVID-related deaths, their project will explore perceptions and experiences of Virginia Latinos regarding COVID-19. The team of researchers has already begun collecting survey data from Virginia Latinos regarding perceptions of COVID, its vaccines, and access to information on the pandemic, and will begin coordinating with Latino community partners of the Shenandoah Valley to promote English and Spanish focus group interviews with local adult Latinos.
Alemán emphasized that Latino populations throughout Virginia, and notably of the Shenandoah Valley, are incredibly…
Published: Wednesday, June 9, 2021
