Items

• 
  2019-03-17

  My personal COVID 19 experience

  I submitted a screenshot of a test from a coworker taken on March 18,2020. I chose to submit this because it shows what the beginning of the pandemic was like for me. I had got laid off from my job at my retail job, I was nervous to leave my house, and the unemployment office was backed up more than it ever had been. Some of my coworkers had trouble filing with unemployment, and couldn't get it figured out. I waited an extra week to file just so I didn't mess it up, and do it wrong. I wanted all the errors and bugs to be worked out. It was such a unsettling time for me, and I had to move back in with my parents. There was such a large adjustment for all of us. I remember sitting on the phone with my states unemployment hotline on hold for 6 hours and getting hung up on. I cried for the rest of the night. I never thought it would end, or it would be my turn to get the help I needed, to get my questions answered. I look back on this time and am so proud and happy for how far we have come. Everyone had their own struggles, and had to think on their feet. The world had never had to deal with something like this in such a manner of urgency before. Here I stand, 2 years later with a job that is paying for my college, living in a different state, able to see finally be happy and relaxed and stable again. I am so thankful I had such a helpful and supportive group around me to get through that time. It is so refreshing to see the growth of everything and everyone the last couple years. The world can now move forward and progress as normal again.
• 
  11/24/2020

  Kirsten Dutzle Oral History, 2020/11/24

  C19OH
• 
  2020-03-26

  ‘This Is the Biggest Challenge We’ve Faced Since the War’: How the Coronavirus Crisis Is Exposing the Precarious Position of Museums Worldwide

  The article discusses the financial hit to museums caused by the pandemic and fear and anxiety over how long museums can sustain amid a global shutdown. Whereas federal aid has come to the rescue of some museums provided by select countries for example, Germany and Britain; however, the United States does not have the same relief plans in place for cultural institutions. The pandemic has revealed weaknesses in the current museum model in relation to funding and what the article describes as a “winners take all mentality”. These problems have been compounding for decades but is the pandemic the straw that breaks the camel’s back? What might a new museum model look like if the old one is no longer sustainable?
• 
  2020-10-28

  Workers Laid off at The Happiest Place on Earth

  Over 11,350 workers, including 720 actors and singers were laid off by Walt Disney World on 28th of October, 2020. The layoffs were a part of Walt Disney’s Co. to eliminate jobs in different divisions to meet the requirements of cost, and restrictions amid the pandemic. Kate Shindle, the president of actor equity association said “Our heart goes out to all cast members at Walt Disney World, Disney has made it clear that our members would face work reduction since they announced layoffs of nearly 28,000 employees .That doesn’t make this news less painful”. The union said that laying off performers would maintain their right to be recalled for job openings until the end of 2021.
• 
  2020-03-30

  From Dine In to Takeout: Staying Connected With Thai Dee Restaurant

  For my friends and I, Thai Dee is our most cherished gathering spot. It is a local San Antonio restaurant that is tucked away in a small building next to a convenience store. The restaurant is centrally located and 15 minutes away from where we all live and work. Thai Dee is the community dining room for my family and friends. We celebrate all our special occasions here in addition to frequenting the restaurant on a weekly basis. It is both a treat and a part of our daily lives to eat at Thai Dee as it is for hundreds of other customers. These last few months have felt strange not being able to eat inside their restaurant. The pandemic hit Thai Dee hard at first. In March they had to lay off all their waitstaff and close their busy dining room. I was laid off from my full-time job too, but I continued to support them with the little money I earned from my part-time job. I turned my weekly dine-in visits to takeout orders. I did my best to support them, but instead I found that they wanted to support me. The family who owns the restaurant has always treated me like a member of their family. When they found out that I had been laid off, the owner sweetly yet sternly told me not to leave them tips anymore. She advised me to save up all the money I had and assured me that they were okay. She would not process any tips I tried to leave on my card. Her son then told me that if I ever got to a point where I was hungry and had no money that I should call him. He would never let me go hungry. I thanked them and started crying as soon as I exited the building. I felt so loved and cared for in that moment. When I opened my bag of food, I found a complimentary order of mango and sweet sticky rice—my favorite dessert. They have since done this for me several times. Back in March I didn’t know if I would be able to return to my job, or if the company was just going to fold. I never shared these anxieties with them, and yet they helped ease them with their kind gestures. The closure of Thai Dee’s dining room saw business slow down at first. When this happened, I sent a text to my friends who immediately went and ordered food. My friends and other regular customers are now back in the habit of ordering Thai Dee’s on a regular basis. Thai Dee has many other loyal customers who love the restaurant and family as much as I do. The walls are adorned with Christmas cards, postcards, and photographs of newborn babies all given to them by devoted patrons. Even former San Antonio Spur, Sean Elliot, has several photos with the Thai Dee crew on the wall. For myself and other regulars, not a week goes by where I don’t go to Thai Dee. My visits give me a sense of normalcy. Even though I miss the social gathering space their dining room provided, I still get to eat the best Thai food in San Antonio and check in with my dear friends who own the restaurant. If I did not have regular access to them my pandemic experience would be miserable. Thai Dee is an icon of San Antonio and they have helped me through this time more than they know. Although Covid-19 disrupted my dining experience, it only strengthened my patronage and bond with the Thai Dee family.
• 
  2020-08-11

  Will the Florida Theatre's Darkened Stages and Empty Seats Survive Covid?

  One of the oldest performing arts venues in Jacksonville, Florida, is the Florida Theatre, which over time has been an opera house, a movie theater, and a venue for concerts and plays. Even though under Florida law, they can reopen at 50% capacity, the layout of the theater is so small they could only operate at 25% capacity to maintain social distancing. Because of this, they have to remain closed as 25% capacity is not financially viable enough to open the theater. The Florida Theatre is a building rich in local history, and in the past they have stayed open to the public because of the concerts they host. Not only that, it is a major local employer, employing people directly and also contracting work from other local businesses.
• 
  2020-06-04

  Educator Layoffs

  I am worried about layoffs next year. I recently moved to a new school and the potential for layoff is high.
• 
  2020-06-04

  Hopes That Job Losses are Slowing

  Reported job losses are declining. The hope is that people can get back to work soon.
• 
  2020-05-05

  Suffolk University/WGBH News/Boston Globe Poll: Coronavirus Has Cut Income for Nearly Half of Mass. Residents

  The survey examined the economic fallout from the pandemic in Massachusetts, the extension of the stay-at-home advisory and closing of nonessential businesses, state and national leadership during the pandemic, perceptions about compliance with wearing masks and social distancing, comfort levels for resuming certain activities, and mail-in voting.
• 2020-05-19

  Untitled

  COVID19 was seen as a joke until people in the states started to get infected with the virus and soon enough a stay at home order was put in place. My school closed down, and classes continued online. I’ve been seeing people complaining about their zoom classes, and it makes me grateful that my school doesn’t make us sit through awkward video chats with our teachers. A normal seventeen year old would expect the same basic routine when it came time to their last year in highschool. Prom, grad night and of course that emotional ceremony where you would say your final goodbyes to the people you practically grew up with. I don’t think any senior this year was expecting, or prepared, for their last year of hell to be cut short, I mean I sure wasn’t. Most parents don't even remember what was detailed in their senior moments of high school, but this year, 2020, will definitely be hard to forget as the years go by. Sadly, my boss informed me that the store I was working at would also be closed down because of the virus. I thought that since I had more time on my hands I would be able to at least use it to work, and save money for my car, but I guess things change. I'm so grateful for the people who are risking their lives to help cure those who have been infected. In Riverside county there have been 5,952 cases, 3,833 recoveries, and 261 deaths. These doctors and nurses are sacrificing their own health and while all were asked to do is stay at home. The question that still remains is when will we be able to socialize with our friends again, and when will we be able to go about our days without having to wear masks and gloves?
• 
  2020-05-10

  The Landscape of Emotion Series #9

  The Landscape of Emotion Series: Under Quarantine is a series illustrating the diverse experiences of mental health and feelings throughout quarantine. Clara Leon, my mother, focuses on unemployment and the love she has and misses for her job. Note: Edward and William are the children she takes care of.
• 
  2020-04-27

  Amoeba Hollywood is Moving

  The world famous Amoeba Music record store is forced to relocate to a different space on Hollywood Blvd with no reasonably foreseeable opportunity to re-open in their current location. This spot has acted as a huge tourist attraction to both music lovers and Los Angeles visitors.
• 
  2006-04-22

  Covid-19 pop, Simpsonville, SC

  This is a "Covid-19 Pop" handed out by a co-worker of my partner and a virus skeptic as a "joke" a few weeks ago. I am uncertain where the humor was supposed to lie. I do think it is an interesting record of what people were thinking and how they were processing this moment. The company laid off half of the workforce due to the virus a few days later.
• 
  2020-03-16

  Layoff Announcement

  This is a screenshot of the announcement that wait staff would be laid off from a local restaurant in NJ for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19 and the orders from NJ governor, Phil Murphy.
• 
  2020-03-23

  Letter Laying Off Frontline Staff at Old North Church

  This is a letter sent to all the part time, frontline staff working at Old North Church & Historic Site, officially laying them off effective April 1st. Old North closed to the public on March 6th, but continued paying staff through the end of the month.