We can’t return to normal — voices from the Local Voices Network COVID-19 conversations
Over the past month dozens of small groups of Americans have gathered for digital Local Voices Network (LVN) conversations. Small business owners and food pantry workers from Wisconsin, faith leaders from Alabama and parents, students, and librarians from across the country have gathered to discuss their hopes and concerns for their communities. The conversations, similar to the in-person LVN conversations we have hosted over the last year, are recorded, transcribed and added to a digital platform where they are made searchable to media organizations, local policy makers and participants from across the country.
LVN conversations surface the amazing and inspiring mutual aid programs and support systems set up by community groups across the country. Challenges that are faced in one part of a state can be matched with solutions from other groups that have gathered. In a conversation featuring food pantry workers in Dane County, Wisconsin, Shannon shared this story about how normal information gaps that exist in the undocumented community have been compounded by job loss and questions about food access. Seven days earlier, Alejandra, a conversation participant from Milwaukee shared a story of hope from Ayuda Mutua Milwaukee (featured here in an article from 88Nine Radio Milwaukee) who provide food relief and critical information for Milwaukee’s Spanish speaking south side community.
The conversations also touch on timely concerns and worries from community members which require further discussion and information. Jen, from Pennsylvania, expresses concerns about the impact on school taxes in her community if people are unable to pay mortgages. Emily, a participant from Alabama, shares a story about her aging mother coping with isolation while social distancing. LVN works with local news organizations to identify issues and questions from these conversations that would benefit from deeper reporting.
While the LVN conversations focus on the communities where the participants are based, we’ve noticed an important theme connecting our COVID-19 conversations: The status quo was not working. The communities and people most directly impacted by COVID-19 are those people traditionally most at risk for healthcare epidemics. Tony, a participant in an LVN conversation from Birmingham, shared this worry about going back to the way things were. Deborah, in a conversation with our news partner the Hunts Point Express, shared how growing up without health insurance affected many aspects of her life
The purpose of LVN is to foster conversations that help people in communities understand one another better. As people gather for LVN conversations, there is a critical opportunity to envision what the future of our communities will look like coming out of the pandemic. In partnership with local news organizations like AL.com and the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism and civic institutions like the New York Public Library, LVN conversations provide an opportunity for the vital conversations to diagnose the reasons why our communities are suffering from COVID-19 and what we can envision for a healthier, more connected future.
We invite you to join the Local Voices Network in conversation with members of your community and others from across the country for an opportunity to speak and be heard. While physically distant, we can maintain and support digital social connection towards a healthier and more connected future.
