“The world has been at a standstill, with clear minds and hearts – the truth rises.”

What are your fears and/or concerns right now?

My fear is the impact to families who routinely have less accessibility to resources. These individuals live in areas where everything is priced high due to crime and with low real estate values. Where children attend underfunded schools without major resources. Where individuals have to rely on public transportation and those employed are often without benefits and not salaried. I’ve been an essential worker for 30 years. When everyone else can run away to safety, we have to protect the communities we serve. Because COVID-19 is invisible, it brings uncertainty and difficulty in communicating and educating the deadliness of this virus. We must use the same reference for COVID-19 as we do for “Faith.” We must believe and trust the information and directions from the WHO and CDC.

What have you learned from living this new normal?

Surviving this new norm is going to require a lot of patience from everyone. Patience requires change, and change always comes with resistance. As we can see, our lives can change in the blink of an eye. We do not know what tomorrow holds, therefore, life is to be cherished in the moment. 

How has the pandemic raised awareness of racial and social inequality?

The pandemic has put America in the shoes of those who experience racial and social injustices daily. Ninety percent of U.S. citizens have experienced unemployment, movement restrictions and limitations on things such as grocery shopping, household supplies and medical care. Most significantly is the reality of having to rely on the government for financial support. 

Do you think anything positive will come from all of this?

The positive impact has been bringing families back together – spending quality time together such as preparing meals, learning, outdoor activities and decision making for households. Most important, unity and community. Things become an issue worth fighting for when you, or someone you love, is impacted. The world has been at a standstill, with clear minds and hearts – the truth rises.

READ THE STORIES

Click on any of the images below to learn more about what's on the minds of fellow Richmonders. From the pandemic to protests, our community has traveled through months of uncertainty, introspection and reflection. Sharing stories gives us an opportunity to learn, connect and grow with one another in the hopes of cultivating a more compassionate, open-minded and empathetic city to live in.