Here at Alabama Arise, we share the uncertainty and worry that many of you may feel about COVID-19 and how best to prepare ourselves, help our neighbors and speak out for adequate resources and aid.

Our first priority is the physical and mental health and safety of our members, partners and staff, and of people living in poverty. More than 46% of adults in Alabama are at higher risk of developing serious illness if infected by COVID-19. And we believe dramatic and immediate behavioral changes will be necessary to help protect vulnerable people from infection.

As a result, we are following health experts’ social distancing recommendations. All staff will be working from home for the foreseeable future. We also will cancel travel plans and will conduct meetings via phone or videoconference where possible.

We’ve arranged to answer calls to our office phone number during workdays. For now, though, email is the surest way to reach us. You can find staff members’ email addresses here.

Despite these short-term adjustments, we remain extremely involved in ongoing policy analysis. And we remain committed to advocating, educating and organizing our communities to speak out for what is most needed. Click here to read more about our plans in the coming weeks and months.

Please take care of yourself, and each other. Thank you for all you do as we continue to work together to improve policies for people in poverty.