April, 2020
Like many people, I was taken by surprise at how quickly and dramatically life changed in an instant. Seemingly overnight, what felt like a distant story was suddenly a harsh reality upending work, personal plans, and life as we knew it. As I write this, more than half the world – 4 billion people – are under official orders to stay at home to do what we can to “flatten the curve.” But human beings are resilient, and there is a great deal of grace around us in this time as well. We watch in awe as heroes on the front lines do all they can to care for us and save lives, and essential workers go in to work each day to make sure we have the supplies we need and manufacture parts for vital medical devices. There is creativity abounding in every corner of the internet as artists share their work to lift our spirits, musicians offer free virtual concerts, and professionals offer free yoga, free mediation, and fitness workouts to aid in our collective wellness. We are discovering new ways to connect with each other via video conferencing platforms for virtual happy hours, brunches, birthday parties, and classes as we use these tools to bring us together on a scale we’ve never experienced before.
In the midst of sacrifices and difficulties, there is an awe-inspiring coming together of humanity as we collectively face the same challenges at the same time. From singing across apartment balconies on the streets of Italy, to the cheers and banging of pots and pans every night at 7pm in New York City to honor those on the front lines, to the flashing lights in windows across the south loop of Chicago – we are finding ways to come together across the world as if to say, “We are here, we are not alone, and we will get through this together.”
This site is our way of helping in these challenging times. We are here for you, you are not alone, and we will find a way to thrive together.
Be safe, and be well.
