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HST391
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2020-04-12
Windy City Records’ Curbside Pickup
In the midst of this shelter in place, many businesses are struggling to survive. Stores that rely on small, niche markets are especially impacted. The new record store in Downers Grove, Illinois is no different. After opening their doors just under a year ago, Windy City Records has relied on a dedicated, but small customer base. This notice that curbside pickup is available is just one attempt at survival. Posted during the Illinois Shelter In Place Order#DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-08
Friendships in the times of COVID-19
During the times of COVID-19, the relationship dynamics between roommates evolve as they shift from being mere roommates to teammates in the battle of staying alive and healthy. COVID-19 demands negotiating new rules, new ways of communicating, new responsibilities, and importantly: new lasting friendships. It is interesting to see how the pandemic both tests and strengthens the bonds between roommates as we navigate responding to each other’s needs. COVID-19 has presented a series of challenges with one of the negative impacts of social distancing, including coping with loneliness. The privilege of living with friends helps boost morale and mental health as we are constantly reminded that we are going through this not alone, but together. Pictured is my roommate celebrating her twenty-second birthday on our back porch on a sunny day in April. Although it is not how she imagined she would spend her birthday, friendship and company offer a silver lining during the coronavirus pandemic. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-10
The Only Can of Disinfectant Spray
Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, finding any sort of disinfectant supplies has been pretty much impossible. With cleaning supplies running low in Chicago, it has been difficult to find any disinfectant product, or even to gather the supplies needed to make one’s own cleaning solution. In a moment of good luck on March 16, I found this can of disinfectant spray at the very back of a top shelf in the Wrigleyville Jewel Osco on Southport Avenue, and climbed up on the bottom shelf to retrieve it. I haven’t been able to find any other disinfectant supplies since. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-02
Revisiting the Parking Lot Where I Learned How to Drive
I currently live in Chicago with my mother, stepfather, and my four little siblings. Because of the pandemic, all playgrounds are closed and fenced off with biohazard tape (which, I find amusing). Lots of large parks are open, but these days they tend to get oddly crowded when it's nice outside. On this beautiful afternoon, we decided to take the kids to ride their bikes in the large and unused parking lot of the Basic Wire & Cable Company, a very out of the way spot where I learned how to ride a bike and drive a car. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-03-16
United We Stand--Six Feet Apart
As the threat of COVID-19 drew closer to home a few local retail businesses in Kentucky have responded through social media by producing topical merchandise designs such as this one. A play on the state slogan “united we stand, divided we fall” it is a nod to the social distancing rule of keeping six feet apart. It is also a humorous re-imagining of Kentucky’s state flag design, which usually reads “Commonwealth of Kentucky” instead of “Commonhealth of Kentucky” and normally features the two figures seen in the center of the image shaking hands. In this image, however, they stand like the rest of us, being in each other’s company from a distance. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-08
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s Daily Updates
○ Every day at 5pm people across the state of Kentucky turn on their televisions and tune in to Governor Andy Beshear’s daily update on COVID-19. For many this daily ritual has become a source of comfort and encouragement, a glimmer of hope. Every day for weeks Governor Beshear has come on TV to remind Kentuckians that their individual actions are powerful and their choices to follow social distancing guidelines during this crisis directly affect the other people in their communities, and reminds everyone that as “Team Kentucky” the state will get through the COVID-19 pandemic together. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-18
COVID Aid Offer in Chalk
The South City area of Saint Louis is a diverse, tight-knit community. It only makes sense that residents would go out of their way to assist each other during this difficult time. The residents of this home near the intersection of Arsenal St. and Gravois Rd. advertised resources in chalk writing on the exterior of the house, including a LinkTree website, toll-free helpline, and email account dedicated to helping those in need and connecting volunteers with service opportunities. There are also children’s chalk drawings of flowers and a rainbow on the exterior and of a rainbow and a pot of gold taped to the window. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-09
Celebrate Holy Week and Easter With Us On-line
As Easter Sunday approaches, President Trump’s prediction about crowds of people returning to mass is proving unrealistic. Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, IL is one example of many Catholic Churches offering online mass as a substitute for in-person services. While religious services have been streamed before, and “Church TV” has existed for a long time, never have Church services across the world had to be cancelled to such a large degree and replaced by online streaming.#DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-10
Feeding the Neighborhood
COVID-19 has been particularly hard for Chicago’s homeless. My auntie and I tried to help out on the West Side, by making turkey and Italian beef and serving them. We also provided kits to individuals, so they could use them to feed their families. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-14
Goodbye Basketball
Since the COVID-19 pandemic many businesses and housing facilities have closed common areas to promote social distancing. Since March many residents have not followed through with the warnings and now landlords and managers have taken measures to keep people from gathering such as at One North Apartments, a University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign student housing facility where they have taken the hoops off the basketball rims #DePaulHST391. -
04/02/2020
A Perfect Back Deck Beverage
Bars in Chicago have been closed for a month due to shelter-in-place. Service industry workers panicked: our paychecks are minimal, and business was just recovering from the winter slump. But, Chicago bartenders are family and many of them got creative. Estereo batched boozeless cocktail mixes and sold bottles of alcohol curbside. So far, we’ve raised enough money for each of our coworkers to get “tipped” $200. I know a lot of that came from fellow unemployed bartenders, and the generosity of them and strangers is truly humbling in a time of anxiety, fear, and social distancing. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-09
Trubisky Jab
Due to the recent ban of dine-in restaurants in Chicago, this clever restaurant owner took a humorous approach to social distancing through the Covid-19 pandemic. The underwhelming 2019-20 Chicago Bears season, fresh in the minds of many Chicagoans, became the focal point of this restaurant’s attempt to promote social distancing. Third-year Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky held one of the worst QBR’s in the 2019-20 season, making himself the target of much slander and in this case, a pandemic-themed joke. In these unprecedented times, a little comedic relief can be greatly appreciated. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-09
Toilet Paper Panic at The Local Food Lion
As the COVID-19 spreads across the world, and the country is in a state of emergency, toilet paper is seemingly wiped off the face of the Earth. Acting out of panic, people rush to grocery stores to buy TP before it’s too late. Those who make it there in time are relieved to find a few remaining rolls of TP. Those who do not are s*** out of luck, and probably should have gone earlier. Now, friends and family have a duty to each other if they ever want to put this behind us. All joking aside, this event has caused a major shortage of TP across at least the United States. #DePaulHST391 -
03/26/2020
Walgreens Prescribes “Social Distancing”
As the COVID-19 spreads across the world, essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies take precautionary measures. Following the guidelines issued by the CDC, businesses such as Walgreens request that while in (and out of) their pharmacy, customers distance themselves by at least 6 feet. Inside the pharmacy, customers distance themselves physically and socially, exchanging looks from 6 feet away that seem to say, “you are too close to me.” Tape across the floor dictates the CDC’s guidelines of what is too close. Novelist George Orwell’s writings come to mind, whose literature warns of dystopian societies. The entire Walgreens experience, from walking in, to shopping, to walking out, reminds customers of the often asymptomatic virus that anyone could have. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-03-21
Unmasking Kindness
Days before Minnesota's official shelter in place, people's homes began to transform into small factories. Turning out masks by the dozens, and sometimes even hundreds, Minnesotans answered the call for the protective headwear. Isolation did not stop people from joining together in common cause. Local businesses gave away materials, and local hospitals created drive-by drop offs for people to donate masks. Once we ran out of fabric, my mother turned to old clothes to meet the demands. Pictured above, I am modeling on of the first masks she made. We donated to family members, friends, neighbors, and also to a local hospital. We also shipped some to my brother's coworkers at the Pueblo, Colorado Health Department. In total, my mom has made around 100 masks, showing that not all heroes wear capes, but they do wear masks. #DePaulHST391 -
04/12/2020
Coping Through Creativity, Part 2: A Colorful Take on Crisis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been hard to find our footing. With widespread cancellations and closures, social distancing has become the new normal. Easter traditions restored a much-needed sense of familiarity amid the anxiety and upheaval. Annual egg decorating offered the chance to dip into creativity and focus on fun. But even these colorful creations provided a clearer picture of how we’re processing these changes. While the eggs are still dyed, they take on a different message this year and reflect the uncertain time we find ourselves in. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-06
Coping Through Creativity, Part 1: Uplifting Uploads
Although COVID-19 keeps us six feet apart, creativity and the 5-7-5 structure are the only limits for members of ‘Haikus for a global pandemic.’ Facebook groups like this one allow members to bridge their social distance using kilobyte-sized reflections and stories. As an online platform for self-expression and community, this page has encouraged compassion and connection in a time of fear and isolation. #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-16
“Cover Your Cough”: Work Safety at a Nursing Home in Burr Ridge, Illinois
While nursing homes play an integral role in the medical care for many elderly individuals, they also present a significant amount of risk during the time of COVID-19. The CDC has identified as those who are most at-risk for infection as people over 65, the immunocompromised, and residents at long-term care facilities. My mom, as the Senior Director of Resident Services, has often described her fear that one of her nurses, CNAs, or residents will contract COVID-19. In order to minimize risk, she relies on reminding nursing home staff and residents of the merits of practicing preventative care. These IDPH infographics provide helpful information to prevent the spread of the virus within a high risk community so that both workers and residents can stay as healthy as can be. *Illinois Department of Public Health; sheets arranged by my mother, Karen Miller, for the staff at her place of employment *04/16/2020; The day of the projected national ‘peak,’ according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation on 04/07/2020 #DePaulHST391 -
2020-04-08
Social Distancing at Walgreens in Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs
Although many businesses have closed their doors due to COVID-19, pharmacies have kept theirs open. Essential workers, like pharmacists, store leadership, pharmacy technicians, and customer service representatives, have continued to work for their communities despite the potential risks to their health. As a part-time pharmacy technician, it is difficult to social distance while at work, as my job relies on interacting with my coworkers and numerous patients throughout the day. This sign serves to remind its viewer that even small errands during a global pandemic, such as picking up medications, may present a preventable health threat to all parties involved. *Walgreens Corporate; notice distributed to individual stores *04/08/2020; Posted in the pharmacy queue during Illinois’ Shelter in Place #DePaulHST391 -
04/09/2020
Handmade Face Mask
Face mask made by St. Louis-based textile artist Katherine Huelsing, my mother. I helped my mom cut and pin fabric while she sewed the masks together. She gave one to each of our friends and family members and donated the rest to a local hospital. There is currently a severe shortage of personal protective equipment in hospitals, leaving many healthcare professionals at risk of infection. The CDC recommended that everyone use PPE when out in public at this time. #DePaulHST391 -
04/07/2020
"This Will Pass"
It has been a common occurrence to see messages in windows, streets, and porches in the neighborhoods of Chicago. Social distancing has instilled barriers into people’s lives and these messages are a sign from others that they are with you, while we all experience the effects of COVID-19. Some of these messages are uplifting while others can be relatively nihilistic. Either way it can be seen as an expression of the anxieties that stem from this plague—there are plenty of unknowns, but messages like “this will pass” is a nice reminder that community is still present in these trying times.#DePaulHST391 -
2020-03-18
Cellar Door Wine Bar
This image is one that has been shared by a bar in the Chicago suburbs, showing thanks to people for supporting small business. I find it interesting because the business does not know that the reader of this sign has in fact supported small, local businesses. Instead, it reads like when your mom says “thanks for unloading the dishwasher” as a way of asking you to unload the dishwasher. #DePaulHST391