Amal

Amal is a DJ in Washington, D.C., who grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland. “At first, I was kinda like bummed out. I mean like every other musician just kinda saw their gigs just kinda drop like flies. Like within – I kid you not- within 72 hours my gigs from now until September had…

Dezmond

Dezmond Ouzts is a frontline worker who lives in Waldorf, MD. He is twenty-six years old. “I believe the company will view me and fellow co-workers, as they always should have, with more respect, dignity, appreciation, and concern going forward. Death and loss has a defining impression on human beings. It is humbling to understand…

Keelyn

Keelyn is a grocery store employee. “There are two types of people you might encounter. There are always angry people who are upset. Then you have the other people, we have had customers bring in Chick-fil-A platters, sweets from piece-of-cake. People will bring in notes to thank us.” Interview highlight: “There are two types of…

Megan

Megan is a news reporter. “The one interesting thing that is happening now is that there is…with 9/11 and the snipers—is that the media is informing people with the information they need, and they are grateful for that. There is a segment of society now that thinks the media has made this up, and that…

Regina

Regina is a UMD alumna, full-time school counselor, and founder of local hair salon Hair + Space Blowdry and Beauty Bar. As someone who grew up in Prince George’s county, she was thrilled to open her first salon in College Park last October. Since COVID-19 forced Regina to close her “nonessential” business in March, she…

Kennesha

Kennesha is a frontline worker who lives in Thorndale, PA. She is thirty-two years old. “I’m not sure that I am considered a hero, but the work that I do is very important to our international presence in the world and so we are an important cog in the system. I am very much appreciative…

Melissa

Melissa is an elementary school teacher in Rockville, Maryland. She has been teaching for over ten years. “It’s a matter of equity too. Some children have a lot of support and they’re going to get through this without a lot of issues and then children who are struggling- struggling learners- you know that’s going to…

Shabnam

Shabnam is a mother to an elementary school boy and a middle school girl. She has been working from home since the start of quarantine. “So, that’s the challenge I have from the work, on top of it, the kids are home…this is the nightmare part…the first two weeks I cry a couple of times,…

Jennifer

Jennifer is a frontline RN nurse who lives in Laurel, MD. She is twenty-nine years old. “My personal thoughts on the current administration’s handling of the pandemic vacillate between anger to despondency. I personally have grown weary of the lack of leadership, lack of trust of the medical professionals trained to address crises of this…

Katy

Katy is a frontline workers (music teacher) who lives in Riverdale, Maryland. She is thirty-five years old. “I don’t feel like a hero. I wanted to quit because I don’t have childcare, but we needed the paycheck. It’s been frustrating that my role has completely shifted, but that I’m still attempting to teach.” We are…