Items

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  2021-02-15

  COVID-19 REFLECTION

  THE ITEM I WILL BE SUBMITTING TALKS ABOUT THE COVID 19 IMPACT ON ME AND MY COMMUNITY(MY CHURCH)
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  2021-02-11

  Family is Forever

  COVID-19 has affected me in a way that seemingly everyone has felt in some way. This pandemic has brought my family closer together, physically and emotionally, than ever before. My family is usually the type to cover up our feelings and hide our thoughts with sarcasm, but this pandemic has unleashed all of those hidden feelings. Being stuck in the same house I have been in for the past 21 years has changed how I view family and the time that is spent together. When the pandemic first occurred, we were all devastated and annoyed, just like the rest of the world, that we were instructed to stay in our homes 24/7 and only leave our homes for certain conditions such as essential work, food, and outdoor activities. During the first few weeks we were all getting antsy and annoyed staying inside all together, but we had to come to terms with the fact that were stuck with each other whether we like it or not. We slowly began to play board games, go on outdoor walks, and spend quality time together because we were all that we had. I used to hate having family dinners, being asked a million questions by my parents, fighting over the bathroom with my siblings, playing family game nights, and much more. Over many months of being cooped up in the same house with my whole family, I started to realize that I cherish those moments more than I thought I did. During the past few holidays that occurred during the pandemic; Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and soon to be Easter, it is easy to see that close family should be cherished and held close to our hearts. Not being able to see my cousins and grandparents for these holidays has been a different kind of experience. We always take for granted those times where we get to casually see them or plan gatherings, but now we’re forced to stay distanced to keep everyone safe. My mom has recently said, “We are showing how much we love them by not seeing them”, explaining that we are keeping everyone safe and healthy by not gathering and possibly spreading Covid-19. Looking into the future and the years to come, I hope to keep appreciating the time with family that I will have and look to make the most of situations I am put into. This pandemic has taught me many lessons that I wish to further learn from and value the important thing sin life that we usually take for granted.
• 
  2021-02-07

  Hungry in a Pandemic - Food Banks

  The numbers of people with food insecurities in 2020 include some scary statistics. The BBC wrote that one in eight Americans didn’t have enough food in the month of November, 2020. Feeding America said one in every six Americans would face food insecurity. Some people are getting creative, like a food bank in Illinois that started out online, providing a sort of online grocery shopping, but for free. Hunger has been a world-wide problem for a long time, and is something I would like to see ended in my life time. However, during this pandemic, when many more people began facing economic hardships, we see different outcomes. Some people are trying to make changes and help more vulnerable people, like some of the stories you can find on foodbanknews.org. Unfortunately, there are still many people facing the fact that they do not know when their next meal will come from. It isn’t a food problem, it is a society problem.
• 
  2021-02-07

  Homelessness During a Pandemic

  A population that gets put last for many things is not going to be completely last for the COVID vaccine. Each individual US state is in charge of the vaccine distribution, but some states, like Connecticut for example, have homeless shelters and similar places under the “congregate settings” part of the vaccine rollout, typically in the first few phases. The homeless population is far too high in the US, and during the COVID pandemic, not much more than the bare minimum has been done. The CDC and many other health organizations have the homeless and other vulnerable populations written into the big picture, with guides and recourses for cities and governments. However, these vulnerable populations are high risk during this pandemic. Food banks have seen a major rise in 2020 as more people are facing economic hardships. Attached are a few related articles. While there are some people working tirelessly to improve the homeless situation in the US, more needs to be done. The articles give a glimpse into the various aspects of the homeless crisis in America, and how we are trying to help during the pandemic, but simultaneously not doing enough.
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  2020-09-01

  Covid-19 Archive Assignment for History of Global Pandemics

  This was an assignment students completed in History 1215: The Origins of Today: History of Global Pandemics.
• 2021-02-02

  Statistics

  Covid-19 is a highly contagious disease. In just California alone there has been 3.34m reported cases and 41,344 deaths. Worldwide there has been millions of deaths. The most recent spike in covid-19 was from November 20th to January 15th.
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  2021-01-31

  Growing up online

  I have a lot of family that lives in Italy, which is a place that has been hit harder than most by COVID 19. I have not been able to see my family in over a year now due to the pandemic closing boarders. I now have to talk to all my family members via FaceTime.
• 2019-08-07

  The “Greatest Pandemic in History” Was 100 Years Ago – But Many of Us Still Get the Basic Facts Wrong

  This article was published on August 7, 2019 just months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. The author’s intention was to share facts about the Spanish Flu so that we can be better prepared in case a similar catastrophic event occurs again. The similarities between Spanish Flu and the current pandemic cannot easily be ignored. It makes one wonder what will be said about COVID-19 100 years from now?
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  2020-01-29

  Love and Loss

  This is a symbolic collage that includes newspaper headlines during the pandemic. It is representative of the ups and downs of the past year. It is important to remember that it can always be worse.
• 2021-01-26

  COVID-19 statistics around the world

  During COVID-19, there have been 100,639,974 cases and 2,161,057 deaths around the world. In Ventura County, there have been 67,223 cases and 543 deaths. During COVID-19, everything has changed from how we live to what we do now. We haven't fully gotten through it, but I hope we will soon.
• 2021-01-26

  aftermath

  The coronavirus was spreading quickly. with the usage of masks and hand sanitizer, it looked like nothing had worked. When we first had to lock down in late March, there were about 16 people with the coronavirus weekly. About 2 weeks ago it skyrocketed to 260,000 weekly cases. That is over a 200% increase in cases! Out of all those cases, I only knew personally a couple of people that had the virus. It seems to have gotten a little better but once we say that we know that it can go downhill again. I don't believe I have gotten the virus personally in any way and my parents are very good at keeping me and my siblings safe. The experiences throughout the pandemic have been very rough but we can always take the good out from a bad situation.
• 2019-04-05

  COVID-19 Story

  During this pandemic, one might think they won't be able to make any new connections or get closer with others. But in my case ever since COVID hit back in March, I actually have gotten a lot closer with people I wasn't as close with before the pandemic. I think this is important to share because you can still have good relationships with your family or friends even during the pandemic.
• 2021-01-26

  Statistics with COVID

  Living in California during the pandemic was a struggle. With how big the population is and the governor, the entire thing was a mess. First off corona itself took over California with how greatly populated the state was but, our current governor used statistics in a way to shut the state down not in the right way and could not prove what science he was using to shut the state down so, he has to open up the state again since he could not prove any of his statistics.
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  2021-01-25

  Biden keeps COVID-19 travel restrictions for Europe and Brazil, adds South Africa

  New travel bans. In reference to new strains discovered in South Africa and England.
• 2021-01-26

  Covid-19 Final Thoughts

  Covid-19 was a very scary pandemic. There has been people doing to the hospital to get medications and even people dying. As of January 25, 2021, in Ventura county, there has been 525 deaths that are people 18 years old and up. In a week, there're +13,593 new cases in Ventura County. There is so much deaths in Ventura County because of Covid-19. There was 26 deaths on January 20, 2021. There has been a lot of people in the hospitals and I think there has been no room for some people.
• 2020-01-27

  Statistics of Covid 19

  In the state of California there is 37,499 deaths. There is 3.21 million cases in the state of California. World wide there has been a total of 99.9 million cases. 55.2 million of those people have recovered from the virus and 2.14 million people have died. I don't really know a lot of people that have Covid but I still have to be careful. Covid is crazy and has changed the whole world. I am not a fan of Covid and I wish it could go away. I wish we could live a normal life. Covid has affected a lot of people and it has changed a lot of people's lives. Everywhere you go you have to wear a mask or stay six feet apart it is really annoying. You have to get used to different.
• 2021-01-26

  Thoughts on COVID

  As we reach the 10th month of the pandemic, it's important to know where we are at. The statsics of COVID right now, for the USA, are a total of 25.3 million cases and 421 thousand deaths. It might not seem like much compared to the population, but it sure is. I haven't had any close friends or family that have contracted COVID, but it seems that the effect it has is different for everyone. My final thoughts on COVID has both made us learn many things and at the same time, it has it's bad things. We've learned and had a bunch of experiences thoughout these 10 months, and I soon hope that this all would be over. Whenever I think about all the precautions and stuff we do during COVID sometimes makes me laugh. Not that any of this is funny, but we aren't used to this, and it feels like we are too careful.
• 2021-01-26

  Covid-19 Statistics

  When Corona Virus started, there wasn't many or even any cases in America. The first case was on January 19th, 2020, a man from Washington State was traveling back from Wuhan, China. He experienced symptoms and tested positive only 4 days after he got back. Now in January of 2021, we have had 25,000 new cases in the past 5 days. The cases have been going down since the holidays are over, and I hope that it will be over for good soon. It's been a lot going through a global pandemic, and having to wear masks and stay at home. It affects a lot of people and their mental health as well as their personal health. Being back at school has helped me not repeat the same day over and over again, and get back to the new 'normal'.
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  2020-12-17

  SARS-CoV-2 Transmission among Marine Recruits during Quarantine

  This is an academic article that discusses the transmission of Covid-19 among Marine recruits in quarantine. Due to the pandemic, recruits have been forced to quarantine before they were able to begin their basic training. Marines were sent to a college campus where they practiced social distancing for two weeks before going to training. This study shows the effectiveness of quarantining, social distancing, and mask-wearing
• 
  2021-01

  COVID-19 deaths soaring in Tennessee's more rural counties

  Over the past several weeks, Knox County and the rural counties surrounding Knox have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Tennessee and its rural areas were not hit hard initially by the pandemic, but have become a major area for concern as of late.
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  2021-01-22

  Pandemic Webcam

  I selected my item because I use the webcam almost every day. It connects to the pandemic because the only reason I have it in the first place is because of online school requiring webcams.
• 2021-01-22

  Symptoms of COVID-19

  Having been in a year of the corona virus pandemic actually was very helpful in learning about health and disease although it is a terrible disease. We have seen many symptoms with COVID such as loss of smell and taste as well as other flu symptoms. Fever or chills and coughing or shortness of breath are the most annoying symptoms I have seen. One of my friends had the corona virus and had no symptoms in other words asymptomatic. Fatigue and muscle or body aches are another flu like symptom that is very common. So over all I have learned that through COVID we should learn to stay healthy and clean and wash our hands.
• 2021-01-22

  Unused and Forgotten

  During the start of the pandemic, I bought extra school supplies for my family and I. Not a single one of these supplies had run out, despite my initial thoughts. This pen stands as a symbol for that very idea. Everything transferred to a digital platform, schoolwork, classwork, official documents, it's all digital. It makes me wonder, everything in our world truly can be shifted to a digital medium. In fact, with the sudden surge of food delivery services, general delivery services, and internet coverage throughout the globe, I do believe that our world can truly be lived entirely in doors. This is obviously not including jobs, but this point still stands as a sign that our world is extremely connected to the internet and data.
• 2020-08-27

  My experience with/symptoms of Covid

  The symptoms of Covid are very similar to the symptoms of the flu. You usually get a fever, body aches, it is harder to breath, etc. Unlike the flu however Covid makes you lose your sense of taste. Of all the people that I know, only three people I know have gotten the virus one was my history teacher, another was my friend, and the last was my cousin. My friend remained mostly asymptomatic the whole time he was sick. My cousin got pretty sick and had a high fever and had a lot of trouble breathing. Thankfully he recovered and is okay now.
• 
  2021-01-02

  2021 Predictions

  I actually agree with most of these predictions. I fear for the economy. I worry about the struggle people will face this year.
• 2021-01-20

  Covid Setbacks

  Well at school we have to travel around the school in one way and if you forget something you have to go around the entire school to get it and then go back its a lot of work. Otherwise actually enjoy Covid I get to sleep and play video games all day. So to future generations when your studying covid-19 think about it from our perspective. I challenge you to think about everyone who went though what I am currently going though. So enjoy life and treat everyone how you would want to be treated.
• 2021-01-19

  COVID 19: Rules

  When the Covid 19 pandemic began, many rules were put in place. Some were not happy with these new restrictions, some were excited for certain laws, but one thing is for certain: nearly all of the rules are necessary. If these rules were not put into place, the death toll would have increased dramatically. I, for one, am thankful that the guidelines were put into place, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy some of them. For instance, it is uncomfortable for me to wear a mask every time I step outside, but I still wear it for the greater good of saving lives. However, there were a few orders I was actually happy to carry out. One of the main orders that I had no problem following, and I'm sure many of my peers will agree, was doing school virtually. I enjoyed it because I got to spend more time with my family, and as an extra bonus I had extra time to finish homework. Of course, I still think physical school was important, but virtual school was a fun experience. Overall, I am glad that the new regulations were put in place to slow the spread of Covid 19.
• 2021-01

  Virtual learning

  So basically my routine is to do school. My experience doing online is absolutely horrible. I’m pretty sure my laptop is cursed. I wake up around 7:50 I get on my laptop and get on Axis. Then I hop on zoom and not even 10 minutes in I get kicked off. It’s so bad we had to get an Ethernet cable for school. And it was still bad!! Overall online school had its ups and downs. I was pist that zoom kept crashing but I was happy that I was working out of the comfort of my own home.
• 2021-07-10

  Virtual Learning

  When doing virtual school. I saw that it was much harder to pay attention and learn in school. This is because I could not interact so much as I would in physical school. At the beginning of virtual school, I felt that this was kind of nice being able to wake up later, and not have to dress up for school. During this, I would go biking on my home trails, or hangout in the backyard. Fast-forward 2-3 months later, and every day is more boring than the last. Now, late 2020 virtual school is hitting me as if it were the new normal. Finally, today, 8:48 AM, January 14th, 2021, I am typing this exact story in my physical school.
• 2020-01-01

  Explain what you think the cause of the virus is.

  Many people believe the virus originated from a bat in Wuhan, China. I believe it came from an animal, that could be a bat, rat, etc. After the animal transmitted its sickness to a human, the virus did the work from there. It kept on spreading throughout the Earth. It is likely that it came from a bat, as that is what scientist's best guess was, but nobody knows exactly how it happens. Bats are known for spreading new diseases around, and are very unsanitary.
• 2021-01-11

  Origin of Covid-19

  When I first learned about the virus, I was told that it came from bats. And the first people that had contracted covid-19 had eaten bats that were sold at a market. I thought it was sad because people were dying from it. I also never thought it would be more than a couple of people that ate some bats and got the virus, I never thought it would become a world wide pandemic. I still believe that there is a virus and that masks effectively work. I know what you can do to prevent you from getting it. When I was first told about the virus, I was told that the flu was worse, in some cases that is true, but because there was no vaccine yet, and it can have also a larger long-term effect on some people. Also, I think that if our president put the entire country in a 4-week mandatory lock down where you were only allowed to leave your house for groceries, we would not be in this massive outbreak now. Also if all those anti-maskers just put a mask on and stopped saying that they have medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask, it could also be a lot better. Yes, there are certain medical conditions that prevent you from wearing a mask like a face burn, but if so just get your groceries delivered and stay home. Also if people stopped spreading lies that covid-19 is just a hoax, maybe some people would take it seriously and we would be in a much better situation.
• 2020-01-11

  The Beginning of Covid-19

  During the Genesis of this Pandemic, I heard that this pandemic came from bats. I was a little skeptical when people told me this. So I had the urge to look it up. After looking it up I stumbled upon that the cause of this Pandemic is "That they all came from bats." After Asia, it soon navigated to Europe and across the world, coming to our home, America. I also learned that this virus attacks the respiratory system. Whether it be the upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, or throat), or the lower respiratory tract (lungs, windpipes), this virus would barrage both.
• 
  2020-12-24

  Adaptations

  This says that as time has went on, people have made more inventions and adaptations to help secure the safety, convenience, and success of as many people as possible. The photo shows a doctor during a plague in the 1700’s with the type of masks that most doctors wore at the time. The survival rate of the epidemic then was much lower than it is now. Now we wear masks that are easy to use in our every day life and are generally very convenient. This is important to me because it displays how our society has learned to adapt to new challenged and that if we can get through this pandemic we can get through anything.
• 2020-06-15

  Returning Home

  When the pandemic hit the United States, I was sent home from college on March 18, 2020. I was frustrated and upset, to say the least, because I was finally learning to love my life as a college student. On the bright side, I got to escape the cold bite of a Chicago winter and trade it for sunny Southern California, my home. What I did not expect was the rising tensions between my mother and me that I would have to face. Growing up, my mother and I had a healthy, strong relationship. She was my hero. My mother is a single mom and has been since I was five years old. She is an incredibly kind, hard-working woman, and she means everything to me. Unfortunately, our relationship is not the same as it was when I was a child. I used to blindly agree with her about everything. Spending time on my own in college, I realized I wasn't being myself when I was around her. I had differing opinions and wanted to grow without the influence of my mother. So I did. I grew into my own person and allowed myself to make my own mind up about things. Coming home, my mother was surprised at how I had changed and disliked me in a way she never had before. As weeks passed in our house, tensions between us rose. We didn't do things the same way, had differing priorities, and most importantly, differing personalities. With the pandemic keeping us cooped up in the house most days, anger was bubbling to the surface. It's only natural when two people as stubborn as my mother and me can't confront one another about the shift between us. Luckily, we have not had a large, dramatic outburst. We have since peacefully accepted the fact that we are never going to interact the way we did when I was a kid. I think the pandemic has created a lot of familial tensions such as my own. My friends have called me with their own stories of arguments with the parents and siblings. It would be easy to dimiss this as common as it happens around family reunions for everyone. However, I think what makes familial tensions during the pandemic so unique is how much we rely on each other right now. One of us could catch the virus any day now. One misstep of being unsafe could put my whole family at risk. So despite the disagreements between us, I love my mother more than ever, and I fear for her life more than ever. So many have passed that I and many others have come to understand how important putting aside tensions to love one another truly is.
• 2020-09-18

  Isabella's Story

  In this article, Isabella Simonetti discusses how she never imagined little things in her life not going as planned before March, but now her life has been totally flipped upside-down. Along with changes in her school life and work life, Isabella was also one of the people who had their 21st birthday look a little different because of the pandemic. She mentions how she felt as though celebrating at all was a betrayal in itself. Towards the end of her article, she makes what I believe to be a very important observation about the pandemic. Isabella says, “Since March, my life has become less about managing expectations and more about not knowing what to expect at all. While I loathe uncertainty, I’ve found comfort in taking a step back, being grateful for what I have, and knowing that things are so crazy and ever-evolving that I just can’t expect anything at all.” The idea of living in the moment and being grateful for what you have is one of the most important lessons we can all take away from this pandemic experience, 21st birthday edition or not. This collection item demonstrates something significant about my generation under COVID. Learning that unexpected changes are not the end of the world and making the right decisions for the safety of you and others was a huge thing 1999 babies were faced with this year.
• 2020-05-28

  #PauseAgingOut Awareness

  CHAMPS-NY is a statewide group of providers, advocates and thought partners, who work to promote state policy and practice changes to ensure children entering foster care are placed into family-based settings whenever possible. In this press release, Kate Breslin, CHAMPS-NY co-chair, talks about how a safe and stable home are vital to both individuals and public health during a global health crisis. This press conference is a call to action for the state of NY to provide foster children with the option to remain in foster care for at least 180 extra days after they “age out”. Nine other states have made this adjustment as sort of a form of a COVID relief plan for foster children and CHAMPS-NY believes that NY should offer this as well, especially since NY has been hit so hard by this crisis. This press conference and including it as a collection item is another attempt to fill an archival silence and to amplify the voices of marginalized groups. Those who speak in this press release are advocating for foster children who struggle to have their voices be heard. These people are fighting for these kids who know one else has or will fight for. This collection item displays and spreads awareness about a group of people who have been silently suffering and who have been subjected to the detrimental impacts of this pandemic just like everyone else, if not more.
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  2020-12-08

  My Personal Experience Turning 21 During a Pandemic

  This collection item not only symbolizes my personal experience of turning 21 during a pandemic but it also demonstrates something significant about my generation under COVID. I was one of the many 1999 babies that experienced this milestone birthday during the pandemic. This photo is to remind that I was not the only one who had to celebrate this birthday in my kitchen and that I was not the only one who couldn’t go out to a bar and take shots with random people. This pandemic has brought about a lot of unexpected things to many people. Turning 21 during COVID times and having an impromptu celebration during it is something that I think is important to document and remember, not only for my generation but for everyone. Looking back on the unexpected and homemade 21st birthday celebrations that people had this year will be something to cherish one day. These kinds of stories are also important in documenting how many people, although there were far worse things going on around them, chose to be selfless and sacrifice this very special birthday for the safety of themselves and others.
• 2020-12-03

  Aging out of the Foster Care System During a Pandemic

  Deshala’s story is one that not only teaches us the struggles of being a foster child turning 21 and aging out of the system during a pandemic but is also a collection item that attempts to fill an archival silence and amplify the voice of a marginalized group. Her story exemplifies how this already anxiety inducing time in foster children’s lives was significantly intensified by the COVID19 pandemic. There are certain groups of people that many of us think of when we hear “marginalized group” but one most people don’t think of is foster children, especially those who are close to aging out. Kids in the foster system normally struggle to have their voices heard and are a group that experiences arguably the most emotional distress and inconsistency in their lives out of anyone in our country. This pandemic not only made them, kids who were about to age out of the system, more stressed and fearful for their future than ever but there was also hardly anything they could do about it either. The inclusion of this collection item is meant to spread and educate people on the strain that this pandemic has put on kids aging out of the foster care system. No one should ever have to worry about losing a safe and stable home, especially not during a global health crisis and Deshala’s story amplifies this issue and calls for action for others in similar situations due to the pandemic.
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  2020-03-27

  The Struggles Of Small Businesses During Covid-19

  During the coronavirus pandemic, financial inclusion is more critical than ever. Small businesses are vulnerable to the health and economic impact of this global pandemic. They are less likely to have access to quality and affordable health care and paid leave to care for sick family members or themselves. Without appropriate savings, credit, and insurance it will be hard for them to weather the storm and deal with business disruptions and maintain a stable livelihood. Small businesses are at the heart of America's economy but hundreds of thousands of them have been pushed to the brink of failure due to Covid-19. I live on the southside of San Antonio and here there are multiple small businesses that I see everyday. Recently, I see signs in front of businesses that speak to me and worry about the families it is going to affect with the closure of the business. Since the pandemic most businesses do not have the cash flow for three months of expenses.
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  2020-07-06

  One Expensive Mask

  This is a silk mask with what appears to be the $1200 stimulus check awarded to U.S. citizens during the pandemic. The design was all hand-stitched by a woman named Jennifer Markowitz in Raliegh, North Carolina. This piece is interesting as it is an artwork that overtly displays the moment in time it was made. This item will stand the test of time and be of interest to historians in the future as it illustrates significant aspects of the year 2020. This item displays an important subject of the pandemic, the stimulus check, on the piece of clothing that has become essential, a mask. This creative artwork is practical and clever when representing the times during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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  2020-12-10

  How Does A Pandemic Affect The Progression of a Relationship? (Corrected)

  This interview examines how a relationship between my close friend, Abby, and her girlfriend Julia was affected by the pandemic. As pointed out in her answers, they began dating right around the time that the pandemic began, and ended in early November, so the entire course of the relationship took place while the pandemic was going on. This interview represents individuals who are part of the LGBT community (Abby is bisexual, her ex-girlfriend Julia identifies as a lesbian), and gives the opportunity for them to share information about a relationship that may be looked over due to its lovers.
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  2020-12-10

  Nurses in 2020

  I think this is an important combination of sources depicting nurses at the beginning of this pandemic, in comparison to how they feel now. My sister, a nurse at a hospital in Los Angeles, California, sent this photo of her to me on March 21st, 2020, smiling and feeling good. 9 months later, she is exhausted, scared, and still working around the clock to help her patients. I think this collection item both demonstrates how significant social media has been with my generation under COVID, as well as being something of interest for future historians to see how devastating the year of 2020 has been. This video of her got 193.3K views on the TikTok app, showing how many people are using the app and watching videos surrounding COVID-19.
• 2020-12-15

  Thanksgiving during Covid-19

  My Thanksgiving was mostly good and not good this year. I felt this way about my thanksgiving that way because I got to hangout with my family, aunt family, and my pets. The reason because it wasn’t good it’s because we couldn’t go to some fun places because of this pandemic and it’s issues. But over all I think God just wanted it that way and that I wasn’t alone in this season. I’m happy that I got to have a thanksgiving in a different perspective of life.
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  2020-12-15

  Pride 2020 Through Art: Handmade Garments

  As many Pride celebrations were cancelled this year, many members of the LGBT community turned to social media to share how they were celebrating Pride in these strange times. This post displays a handmade crocheted shirt in the colors of the pride flag, made and shared by an individual seeking recognition for the work seeing as she had no celebration to wear it to. This just shows the dedication of the LGBT community to the celebration of Pride, which will be communicated to any future historians studying LGBT history.
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  2020-12-13

  How Does A Pandemic Help One Explore Sexuality?

  In about September or October, I remember my friend reaching out to our group chat about how she was questioning her sexuality. This questioning soon led her to the realization that though she had identified as straight her whole life, she felt that the label of bisexual fit her better. Next thing I knew, she was dating a girl. When I decided to seek out material related to the expression of sexuality during the pandemic, I knew immediately that I wanted to dive deeper into her story and see if the pandemic had anything to do with the situation. One of the biggest issues I had with this interview was making sure that I was not overstepping any boundaries and getting too personal, going back to the ethical responsibility that historians/archivists have to respect the privacy of those who are aiding in their contribution. However, I feel that not only did I find more out about the effects of the pandemic, rather, I found more out about my friend than I had expected to.
• 2020-10-30

  CDC Tips for Voters

  In 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been a pivotal organization in educating the public on how to protect themselves, and others, during the covid-19 pandemic. The CDC periodically releases guidance and updates on how to safely navigate everything from grocery shopping to voting. The CDC released an article titled “Tips for Voters to Reduce Spread of COVID-19”. In the article they encourage voters to know their voter’s rights, even if they are quarantined for covid. With a lot of voter misinformation circulating, the CDC took the proper steps to help voters understand their rights, whilst encouraging measures that help prevent the spread of this rapidly spreading virus.
• 2020-11-26

  My covid story

  Well we where going to a gathering with our family and we were going to have a feast and some of my family members did not believe that covid was real. So they did not wear masks. The corona virus was going around right now and it transmits the disease through speaking and saliva. So basically it is bad. And so we sat down to eat and my parents started to tell our grandparents about how it is bad to not wear a mask. So they had along talk about it then that was it. So its different at this time. Thanks
• 
  2020-12-15

  Political Face Masks

  As the CDC released guidelines for how citizens could help stop the spread of covid-19, many American’s started to wear masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) before leaving their homes. Masks quickly went from simply being a means of protection to a way of expressing themselves. Much like wearing a campaign t-shirt to show political affiliations, people started to wear masks adorned with slogans from the presidential campaigns. The Trump campaign, and others, released MAGA masks for purchase on their campaign shop. Only during a pandemic in tandem with a presidential election would we see something like this. As the pandemic continues on, it is safe to assume that masks will continue to be a way for people to display their personalities.
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  2020-05-12

  Making this Moment in Time: My Covid-19 Reality

  This is my story and my truth regarding my moment in time in my new Covid-19 reality. This story was originally done in May 2020 on behalf of a contest I entered for the Bronx Community College Spoken Word Club. It expresses what I was feeling and going through during that exact time at the height of the pandemic.
• 2020-11-26

  Thanksgiving of 2020

  My Thanksgiving this year was barely changed. Ignoring guidelines by Democratic governor Newsom, who doesn't even seem to be able to follow his own rules, I celebrated a great thanksgiving. My family gathered together at my house and my mother made the meal. We had multiple pies and a large turkey to separate between all family members that could come. I had a great time celebrating, and no one in my family has got sick from the gathering.