Life in the time of COVID-19
This a set of audio and digital stories highlighting the experiences of people whose lives have changed dramatically during the pandemic.
This project was produced in August 2020 in partnership with the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
A young mother copes with the challenges of caring for a special-needs child during a pandemic
By Denae Ayala
COVID-19 has caused supply shortages and added extra stresses for a toddler whose rare genetic disorder requires round-the-clock care. “Even in the nighttime, you have to keep eyes on him.”
A new teacher worries about teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Jacqueline Ramirez
Keiri Ramirez got her dream job as a math teacher at a local middle school, but she didn’t envision having to engage her students virtually during these unusual circumstances.
“All the World’s a Stage”: Vibrant Life Director entertains elders in socially distant community living
By Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert
In light of social distancing requirements, Vibrant Life Director Benny Medina had to make drastic changes to how she approaches her work engaging the senior residents in her community. With her background in musical theater, she did so one song and one costume at a time.
The man behind the literary heart of Little Arabia
By Noor Bouzidi
Jarir Saadoun has had to adapt to bookselling in the era of COVID-19. He gives insight into running a small business, raising his two-year-old son, and building connections with the Arab American community through reading — all during the pandemic.
Essential mom, essential worker
By Tiffany Mankarios
Although Dr. Reva Basho’s hectic schedule has been nothing short of intense, she has learned to appreciate what the pandemic has taught her family and the world.
Virtual opera: The sound of music during COVID-19
By Xochitl Hernández
Mercedes Juan Musotto, originally from Argentina, is an opera director and conductor at both Santa Monica College and California State University, Northridge. She’s the first Latina woman at these campuses to hold these positions.