By: Lauren McRae

Sometimes it takes a chorus of small voices to move the biggest mountains.

That was the goal Frank Black, a NorthShore team member, had in mind when he asked African American residents from Evanston if he could video record their reasons for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. He hopes the vaccine testimonials will help build trust in minority communities facing vaccine hesitancy.

“I’ve already received three notices from people who went to get vaccinated after watching the video,” said Black, who collaborated with the Evanston Health Department and Second Baptist Church in Evanston.

In addition to about 10 candid testimonials from residents, the moving video includes conversations with six pastors and NorthShore Registered Nurse Amy Troob. Many of them share why they were initially hesitant to get vaccinated and the relief they felt afterward.

Another guiding force for Black was his beloved uncle, Hecky Powell, a prominent Evanston community leader and owner of Hecky’s Barbecue, who died last May from COVID-19.

“I said ‘Yes! Yes!’ to get this project done for my uncle, too,” Black said. “If he was around, he would also be pushing vaccinations.”

NorthShore is providing nurses and medical assistants to administer the COVID-19 vaccine through faith partnerships, similar to the first doses administered at Second Baptist Church in April.

Click here to watch a short version of the video, and here to watch a longer one. The video was produced by B & W Media Services, a company Black owns with his business partner, Devyn Watson.