AllClear: All Hands on Deck against COVID-19
When you do things in the service of others, you end up benefiting immensely. Volunteering to create AllClear was no exception. I believe increased access to testing will be vital in our efforts to keep people safe and expedite the return to normalcy. So I wanted to help in a tangible way, and watching COVID-19 wreak havoc here in New York City compelled me to join the effort. I was excited to build a comprehensive platform everyone across the US could refer to for help. I’ve witnessed inspiring acts of kindness and sacrifice during this time — from our essential workers to those donating to help feed individuals who do not have the means. A byproduct of these selfless acts is that people like myself become inspired to contribute however we can.
Word spread quickly, and our daily Zoom meetings grew from 5 team members to more than 20 volunteers. It now feels like the idea has a life of its own, with momentum only increasing every day. The majority of my efforts are focused on how best to structure, collect and display our data to provide as much value as possible. However, I also get to help out on the marketing side. It is an amazing experience. I have the privilege to collaborate with professionals, most of whom I’ve never met personally, who are coming together to build something we believe has the potential to help society get back on track.
To the companies that offered their services to us for free, I say thank you. So many entities, such as Figma, Orrick, LogRocket and Airtable allowed us to focus on efficient execution. Over the course of multiple revisions and healthy debates, different voices emerged to ensure we kept the main thing the main thing. That’s not always an easy thing to do but AllClear is a testament to teamwork.
Throughout the process, I’ve made new connections with professionals who come from a variety of industries and areas of expertise. This diversity of thought serves us well as we are constantly learning from and with each other. I now have a running list of new terms and resources that I’ve picked up on during this process. I’d do some worthwhile googling each time someone uses an acronym or term I am unfamiliar with. That’s what it’s about though — personal development while developing.
Our vision has unified talented marketers, designers, engineers, researchers and product managers. The crazy thing is that we are just getting started. I’m proud to share AllClear with the world, observe its impact, and ensure that AllClear evolves with the changing needs of society as we get well while showing our strength and perseverance.
