We Can Sew It!
For those that don’t know me, I kinda have a thing for Rosie the Riveter. She’s been a staple in my life and the representation of an attitude I like to carry. The passing of Rosalind P. Walter this month, the original Rosie, hit me like a brick and made me grateful about the symbols and artwork to carry the legacy forward. Actually, hold up on the reading because this video sums up my feelings better than a paragraph:
Needless to say, I’m a fan and Rosie’s been on my mind this week more than ever while we continue to see these calls to action due to a lack of resources. The harsh reality is COVID-19 is sending hospitals around the globe into a tailspin. Doctors are saying that they’re “at war with no ammo” and our top leaders are still struggling to state when resources will arrive. Our own Governor Cuomo referenced Rosie the Riveter while stating that the ventilator need of today is much like the missile demand of WWII.
So, much like WWII, there’s a gap in the supply and leaders are popping up in brand new ways. Bring in the ‘Rona Rosies!
- Army steps in to help with ventilator production
- #HackThePandemic on Twitter
- Coronavirus-focused Hackathons
- Washington state calling on volunteers to sew
- Grocery store employees and the unsung heroes
- Delivery work and gig economy shifts
Some Rochester goodness includes the Black Button Distillery changing their production line to create hand sanitizer for hospitals and high-risk individuals. Also, the team at Rochester City Newspaper is compiling a list of local businesses that we can all support in this difficult time, as the mandates are forcing closures. These are just a couple of the wonderful stories coming out of our local community that restores the sense of humanity and solidarity.
I want to be super mindful of the fact that this pandemic is not easy on the mind. Many folks are dealing with the reality that their home is suddenly a work location and a school, which is plenty to juggle on top of an invisible threat in our environment. Others are realizing they no longer have a job and need to find a new hobby in a high-anxiety time. Rosie can come to us in different ways and simply staying put and reducing the spread of the virus is a heroic act. Preventing harm is just as important as trying to jump to new solutions. Plus, maintaining mental and social wellness is an underrated effort especially when we can stay connected while apart. I had the opportunity of chatting to Jeremy with Rochester City Newspaper as we figured out how to form a plan while stuck in the home. My contribution heavily leaned on gaming and embracing virtual, social networks at a time of social distancing. ::waves at Animal Crossing pals:: I also did a snarky take on Rosie the Remote Worker ahead of the mandate to work from home last week. I cope through humor so here you go:
My little jokes aside, we’re seeing examples of these distanced, heartwarming connections all across the globe, too. Check out this neighborly act of projecting “Swing Time” on a building while a couple danced to “Cheek to Cheek” in isolation:
Or Italians singing from their balconies while the coronavirus death toll spikes in their country:
At times like this, we can’t just “look for the helpers.” We need to be the helpers. Whether we can craft, sew, assist, sing, make someone smile, or simply stay put, we’re witnessing a call to action and a change of guard from the original Rosies from a near-century ago. So let me be one of the many to say: you can sew it! You can sing it! You can clean it! We can do it! Let’s crush this virus.
P.S. Please pass along any great “‘Rona Rosie” examples so I can continue to add them! Examples fuel inspiration and motivation so keep ’em coming.
