Checking in: How are you doing as we confront the coronavirus? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
May 27, 2020
(Photo provided by Shanice Thomas and Deja Garner)
So, how are you doing?
Milwaukee NNS continues to check in with the community as we cope with the challenges of Covid-19. This week we hear from a mother and daughter who work with youth and families in our neighborhood schools.
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(Photo provided by Shanice Thomas)
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Shanice Thomas, parent coordinator at Milwaukee Public Schools
Metcalfe Park
Well, for me it has been pretty productive. The first couple of weeks I rested. We have become so busy in our day-to-day tasks that we rarely get time to rest.
Once rested, I tackled some much needed housework. Also, I have been working from home. I am normally what you would call an introvert so staying home is not so much an issue for me as it is for others. I didn’t take the order to mean stay indoors. So in between working. I went for bike rides, walks and did yard work. I tried to not focus or worry about what was happening in the world. I did my best to remain safe and practice all of the CDC guidelines. I made it a point to check on my elderly neighbors and check in with those who have been affected by this virus and checked in on those who may just have a problem staying in with little human interaction. Trying to be as encouraging as I can. I created a Zoom account for my family and friends. We meet once a week.
I feel that I need and have worked on gaining being in control of me, my time, my thoughts, my day-to-day tasks even as the world begins to open back up. I need more of that, and I also need more patience when dealing with others.
Honestly, I need less bills!
I want to say to my neighbors to be encouraged. I am here for you. We are a community, we are family. Stay safe and let us together overcome these obstacles.
Let’s plan a block cleanup. I’ll supply the hot dogs. Of course using safe-distancing practices. Be well! My condolences to the people who have lost loved ones during this time. I know our neighborhood was hit pretty hard.
I guarantee that the seed you plant in love no matter how small, will grow into a mighty tree of refuge.
~Afeni Shakur
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(Photo provided by Deja Garner)
Deja Garner, community outreach coordinator at WAVE (Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort) Educational Fund and team member of FAST (Families and Schools Together) at Hopkins Lloyd Community School
Roosevelt Grove
I’ve been experiencing a mix of emotions since being told to stay indoors. Although I’ve been home more, it seems that work and other obligations have picked up a lot more. I work for a gun violence prevention organization and that work has not stopped for us. I lost two former students to a domestic violence incident where five family members lost their lives to a person with a gun. I’ve had a hard time processing that.
I wish I had more downtime. Lots of people have gone virtual in their work, and I think that opens the door for more people to want to do more activities; I’ve been looped into quite a few different things. On a more personal note, although our state is back “open,” I’ve still been precautious about gatherings. I definitely miss physical interaction with friends and family. That’s something I did not realize I would need more of until all of this happened.
Zoom meetings! Ha-ha. On a serious note, I’m not sure what I need less of aside from what I have already mentioned. The projects I’ve been part of have been good projects, but sometimes there’s not enough hours in the day.
I’ve dealt with some flooding in my own home and in a home that I am house sitting, so a little less rain at one time would be nice, too.
Be gracious with yourself during this time! Take everything step-by-step and do what is best for yourself and your family. I hope you can feel the love from a distance!