In partnership with South Seattle Emerald, Town Hall presents our podcast residency, Life on the Margins. Using our Artist/Scholar in Residence platform, we’re lifting up three local voices—co-hosts Marcus Harrison Green, Enrique Cerna, and Jini Palmer share stories not just about marginalized communities, but from within, and alongside them.

A public health study reveals that King County has significant racial disparities in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths. Among Latinos, the study shows the virus death rate is two and half times higher than white people. The study mirrors what is happening nationally as communities of color are being hit hard by the coronavirus.

We break down the data in King County with Matias Valenzuela, who directs King County’s Office of Equity and Social Justice, and find out why the numbers are so much higher among communities of color.

We also meet registered nurse Jessica Esparza, who is risking her life to save others amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Jessica works in the Intensive Care Unit at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. These days, she worries not only about contracting the deadly virus, but also as an undocumented immigrant and DACA recipient, whether she will be able to remain in the United States as the Supreme Court considers whether to uphold the Trump administration’s plan to terminate DACA. The court is expected to hand down a ruling in June.

Presented by Town Hall Seattle and The South Seattle Emerald