“We shine our best in the darkness”: a list of nice headlines during the COVID19 pandemic
It’s really hard to be optimistic in this time of uncertainty. But one of our mission pillars is to rebuild our capacity to heal one another and to re-imagine collective power. That’s why we want to share some real gems that we’ve come across in the last few days.
Check out this video of a deserted street in Italy under COVID-19 lockdown filled with song as neighbors lean out their windows to sing together. As one twitter user noted: "People breaking out in song, lifting each other's spirits during this tragedy, is an act of striking beauty. It's a reminder that, especially during a tragedy, the human spirit keeps us all going in hope. We shine our best in the darkness."
And then there's this video in which chants of 'jiāyóu' can be heard echoing between Wuhan's apartment blocks as people took to their balconies to shout what translates literally as "add oil", meaning 'keep up the fight', to their neighbors. (It was day six of life under lockdown for the Chinese city's 11 million residents).
Also...So many mutual aid groups are popping up! For example, @covid19mutualaid is an Instagram account where “regular folks, especially folks of color, immigrants, [and] people with disabilities…” can share information and find community.
The New York group, the Guardian Angels, are putting their bodies on the line to protect Asian elders from further hate crimes.
And at Coop 789 (our first community-owned property), the Resident Owners used the text thread that they formed when organizing to buy their building from their former landlord to share information and show solidarity with one other!
Even people in positions of power seem to be trying to do the right thing during this crisis:
- Free wi-fi for the next 60 days;
- Oakland will continue to provide free meals to kids during school closures;
- Local governments calling to halt residential evictions;
- SF public defender calling on expedited releases for people in juvenile detention;
- Alameda County public defender calling for release of high-risk inmates in Santa Rita Jail;
- The House approves a relief package to provide free testing, sick pay for workers, enhanced unemployment benefits, and bolstered food programs (now going to Senate);
- SF suspends cutoffs in water and power; and
- Oakland will expand the loan program for small businesses hurting because of the coronavirus!
Do you have good news?! Put it in the comments below!
