Introduction: Pandemic Project
Young People, you are living history. Tell your own story.
Welcome to the Pandemic Project: Newark Stories Unmasked.
In March of 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic changed our lives. COVID-19 took our loved ones, filled our hospitals, closed our schools, and impacted the social, economic, and mental wellbeing of thousands of Newark residents. At the same time, the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others ignited a worldwide call for racial justice. In the middle of all of this are our young people, who will grow up to tell the story. We decided, they should start now.
The Pandemic Project: Newark Stories Unmasked is a website created by youth in the Abbott Leadership Institute’s Youth Media Symposium and New-Ark Leaders of Health to capture the experiences of Newark’s people during this moment in history. Starting in the summer of 2020 and over Zoom, these resilient youth leaders interviewed community institution leaders, health care physicians, clergy, community organization leaders, parents, and students. Through various forms of media, interviews, and poetry, and with a youth participatory action research approach, they have captured in Chapter Teams the narratives to share.
We invite you to listen to, share and add your story to the Pandemic Project.