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Planning A Comeback For The Quarantine Pay Bill

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Del. Elizabeth Guzman hasn’t been able to get her bill mandating paid sick days for Virginia’s workers through the General Assembly. But she’s not going to stop trying.

Virginia Delegate Elizabeth Guzman said she is no stranger to the struggles of low-paying jobs. She immigrated to the United States as a single mother and worked multiple minimum wage jobs just to be able to pay rent and care for her daughter.

Now, as the elected delegate for Virginia’s 31st District, she has a mission to secure better financial benefits for minimum wage workers. But it’s not going as planned.

Guzman plans to introduce a new bill to require Virginia businesses to offer paid sick days to employees during the next legislative session in January 2021. The most recent version of her bill, HB 5116, was just killed in a Senate committee after being passed by the House.

Guzman said she’s frustrated but she’s willing to keep trying.

“Most of the arguments that I heard was because businesses are hurting and it was not the right time,” Guzman said. “We hear a lot about businesses that we don’t hear about the working class, and who’s going to be fighting for them.”

Kim Bobo, the executive director for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), said she is in favor of Guzman’s bill. Bobo said paid sick days, like getting paid a minimum wage, are basic standards employers should be able to provide for their employees without government assistance.

“We really don’t believe that public funds should be used to subsidize employers providing such a basic core standard as paid sick days,” Bobo said. “We will not include anything like that in a bill going forward.”

Being able to take paid time off can have a larger impact on the community because workers don’t have to choose between their families’ well-being and a paycheck, according to Bobo.

“They will stay home when their children are sick and they won’t send their kids to school sick, which is what happens right now,” Bobo said.

Over half of supporters of all major political parties in Virginia “strongly” or “somewhat” support mandated paid sick days. (YouGov)

Bobo isn’t the only supporter of Guzman’s bill. Eighty-three percent of Virginians support paid time off mandates, according to a September YouGov poll commissioned in part by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. In the Democrat-majority Virginia Congress however, one of the few things the delegates and senators can agree on is that businesses are hurting.

Del. Chris Head, who represents Virginia’s 17th District, voiced his concerns during the legislative special session requested by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

“This bill is going to cause businesses who might hire people to think twice about it,” Head said. “It’s going to raise their expenses for hiring people and it’s going to end up hurting many of the very people that you’re trying to help with this legislation.”

Guzman said she isn’t deterred. After Gov. Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam announced they tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 25, Guzman said she needed to quarantine; Guzman had visited a school with the First Lady just a few days prior. The quarantine is just a reminder of what Guzman is fighting for.

“Listen, there are 1.2 million Virginians out there that, if they were in the same situation that we are today, they would continue to go to work, because they don’t have a dime,” Guzman said firmly. “Please pass the message to the Governor and the First Lady.”

The next regular session of the Virginia General Assembly is scheduled to start on Jan. 13, 2021.

Top Photo: Employees at the Kung Fu Tea on West Grace Street prepare drinks while wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic. (Zachary Klosko/VCU)

On the Line During A Pandemic

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Face masks, grumpy customers, and fear of exposure — what it’s like to be on the kitchen staff for Virginia restaurants attempting to survive and thrive during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Virginia’s food scene is incredible. Across the state there are many restaurants run by talented chefs serving incredible food. The quarantine brought on by the coronavirus outbreak has taken a toll on restaurants across the state, though, as people are not only hesitant but altogether not allowed to dine out the way they once did. 

Most media in the state has focused on how owners of restaurants are coping with the virus — what they are doing on their new takeout menus, how their daily turnover has shifted, what plans they have to reopen. However, less attention has been given to the actual staff of these restaurants and how they are coping with the changes the pandemic has brought to their work. 

As someone who works in food service, I can tell you that working in a kitchen during a pandemic is a blessing and a curse. I’m more than grateful to have work, but because of my constant interaction with customers I fear that I am exposing my family to the virus.

I work at an artisan bakery in the Chelsea district of Norfolk, fittingly called The Bakehouse at Chelsea. I work on the pizza crew, slinging pizzas into and out of a 600-plus degree wood-fired oven. Every day I go through my prep list as I normally would; I slice pepperoni, I make sauce, I cook bacon, I cut onions, I shape dough, etc. Unlike a lot of the restaurants around the area, the Bakehouse has been doing well; I think that’s simply because people want pizza when they’re stuck at home. 

It’s not rocket science to figure out that people like pizza. 

However, the coronavirus has introduced challenges that I have to face every prep and dinner shift. At around 4:45 p.m. every Friday, I’ve seen a sort of passive-aggressive mad dash amongst the four line cooks working the shift to determine who will be the ones working the line and oven that night, and who will be the ones wearing masks and working the register.

“We’re required to wear masks by law and we do,” said my manager, Kenny Gerry. 

Naturally though, that slips our minds at times; especially when we’re in the middle of a weekend dinner rush and facing hour-and-a-half wait times. We’ve become a lot better about it as we realize the importance of it.. Although the staff is required to wear masks, until last week’s order by Governor Northam, customers were not. About half of the customers that came in before the order weren’t wearing a mask or any kind of protection, and sometimes completely ignored the hand sanitizer on the counter.

Interestingly, the customers who came in without a mask were more often than not the rudest and most entitled customers. Even when we’re clearly slammed, they repeatedly ask when their food is ready and why they have to wait. If they tip at all, it tends to be very little. I think that the same mindset of “Why should I have to wait?” falls in line with the mindset of “Why should I have to wear a mask, even if everyone else is?”

“I’m glad our kitchen is separate from our seating area, because I worry about the people coming in,” said Eric Durham, a line cook at Luna Maya. Luna is a Mexican restaurant in the Ghent district of Norfolk, and they have some of the best mojitos and quesadillas I’ve ever had.

“I’m not worried about the people that work there bringing the virus in,” said Durham. “I’m more worried about the customers.” 

The bright side, in my experience, is that people are grateful for our work. Customers have been tipping well, especially when you’re able to compliment the mask they matched to their shirt, or have somewhat of a nice banter despite both voices being muffled underneath a mask. 

“Business has fluctuated drastically since quarantine,” said Durham. “Sometimes it’s like we never closed, and other times there’s absolutely nothing to do.”

When there’s nothing to do in the kitchen of Luna, Durham likes to get creative. One of his favorite things to make is the “Dunc Wrap.” His take on Taco Bell’s CrunchWrap is chorizo sausage, poblano peppers, rice, beans, onions, queso, and pico de gallo, wrapped in a large tortilla. 

“That’s the standard one, but I like to change it up each time,” he said, “especially if there’s nothing else to do.” 

At the Bakehouse, Gerry has been getting creative as well. He made a barbecue sauce out of ingredients lying around the kitchen; this has led to a barbecue chicken pizza special hitting the menu. My coworkers and I have been able to experiment with our own ideas as well, making pizzas with pimento cheese, kimchi, pears, and whatever else might cross our minds.

From a line worker’s point of view, restaurants in Virginia seem to have been coping well with quarantine and the slow reopening of the state. Takeout menus have been a way for cooks to get creative. Restaurants that don’t have patio seating have taken tables out to their parking lots and have done what they can to welcome business.

However, the pandemic still lingers regardless of reopening. While people go out, they still put themselves at risk, and the line cooks working at these restaurants face that risk every shift. Regardless, though, people can only eat so many home cooked meals before they have the desire to go out. And as the state reopens, they’ll have more chances to.

Photos by Noah Daboul

COVID-19 Relief Fund Helps Local Artists In Need

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CultureWorks Richmond has awarded grants to over 100 local artists whose livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic, prioritizing artists from marginalized communities. But there are still many more in need.

Since mid-April, when news struck that Virginia would be under a coronavirus-related stay-at-home order for an indefinite period of time, Richmond CultureWorks has awarded 131 grants of $500 each to local Richmond artists, musicians, and organizations through their COVID-19 Arts & Culture Relief Fund.

“The arts are sometimes the first thing that’s cut,” said Erin Frye, Director of Programs & Outreach for CultureWorks. “If people are going to prioritize food and masks — which makes total sense — then the arts are something that can be on the chopping block at times, when in reality our community and our culture wouldn’t exist without the arts. Without these things, we wouldn’t have this beautiful, colorful city.”

The fund was set up by CultureWorks along with seven other arts and culture organizations in Richmond, including 1708 Gallery, Afrikana Film Festival, ART 180, Iridian Gallery, Studio Two Three, Black American Artists Alliance of Richmond, Visual Arts Center of Richmond, and Oakwood Arts. These groups formed a coalition that fundraises for and distributes the funds. Frye said the coalition decided that funds would be distributed to those in communities that are usually at a socioeconomic disadvantage first and foremost. 

“The coalition of partners decided the first step would be to prioritize communities that have been marginalized,” Frye said. “Anybody that has dealt with systemic inequality, because COVID-19 is obviously bringing that to light, and almost creating more of a disparity. We’re supporting LGBTQ, immunocompromised folks, people of color, first Americans, and several others.”

Ron Taylor, a Richmond local who was awarded the grant at the beginning of May, is a fashion designer who’s been unable to sell his products and conduct his sewing classes because of the pandemic. His commercial space, located in Hopewell, is still collecting rent. The grant has allowed Taylor to keep the lights on in his space so he can still make do what he loves and make alterations, even though he can’t teach classes. 

Taylor said he hasn’t considered teaching his classes virtually because for starters, the warehouse doesn’t have Wi-Fi plus his classes are usually very intimate. He hosts sewing classes called “sip and sews,” where adults can drink wine while kids can drink juice and eat pizza as they learn to sew and making articles of clothing. 

In addition to help pay the rent, the fund has also allowed Taylor to spend some money on materials to help build his advertising “up to par,” so he can get the word out that he’s still making products. 

Though Taylor doesn’t have any income coming from selling his sewing creations right now, he did get the opportunity to make some money off of prom dresses he was making for four high school seniors. Instead, though, he decided to give them their money back, even though his contracts say he has a no refund policy. 

“I just felt it wasn’t right because … it was their senior prom, so this was the last prom that they would go to,” Taylor said. And of course, proms were cancelled all over Virginia due to the coronavirus. “So as a business owner, even though no one asked for a refund, I just felt in my heart to let them spend that money on something that they were going to college for.” 

Luckily, Taylor is still earning an income through his job as a communications staffer at a security company, but his job at Nordstrom, where he did tailoring and altering, was also put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Heidi Rugg and one of her creations. Photo via Barefoot Puppet Theatre/Facebook

Unlike Taylor, Heidi Rugg, a local puppeteer who owns Barefoot Puppet Theatre, has no source of income currently, as she and her family haven’t been able to put on shows or sell any puppets. While Heidi is the actual puppeteer and her husband is the tech guy behind the shows, they have two kids at home, as well as her mother who recently moved in with them, that they have to provide for as well. Fortunately, the Rugg family was granted the COVID-19 Arts & Culture Relief Fund. 

“It’s nice to buy groceries,” Rugg said. “You know, it’s just little things. There are no safety nets, we’re not part of a corporation. Gig workers are panicking all over Facebook.”

Rugg said funds like these are essential in a time of crisis, as many people don’t realize how big the arts industry is. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, it makes up 4.2 percent of the GDP, which is larger than the national GDP for agriculture. 

“The system was just not set up to handle gig economy workers.” Rugg said.  “It’s like the federal government sent out this box of stuff without instruction or anything and were like, ‘Here’s this stuff you need to fix your problem. Go build it.’ But there were no instructions, and nobody knows what to do with gig economy workers. I mean, seriously — we’re odd ducks.”

Rugg said the only show on her schedule that’s set in stone isn’t until January 2021. There may be some shows that’ll be converted into virtual shows, but the rest have been cancelled. She said the year 2020 has been pretty much completely erased for people in her industry, leading her and her fellow performers to be left with “tenuous” budgets. 

Knowing very well that there’s a plethora of moving parts in the performance industry, Rugg said she’s never seen the industry so dilapidated. 

“It’s like there’s big machine and somebody threw a monkey wrench in it,” said Rugg. “Everything is all over the floor, and it’s a mess right now. We’re all just standing around staring at the mess, because it’s gonna be a long time before we can put it together again.”

Neal Perrine. Photo via Soundcloud

Taylor and Rugg haven’t been able to put on any virtual classes or shows, but Neal Perrine, a local jazz artist, has taken this time to start livestreams with some of his friends from college. Perrine, who is currently out of work, said he’s only made a couple of bucks from these livestreams where he puts up a virtual tip jar, but people seem to really enjoy them so he and his friends are going to try to do one once a week. He said he found out about the relief fund via Facebook, and has used the grant he applied for and received to pay his rent. 

“I don’t know if this is the same situation for anybody else, but I got no relief from any sort of rent, so I am still completely responsible for that, and it really helps with that,” Perrine said. “Every gig is gone. There’s no gigs for musicians — out in public, at least.”

Perrine said when word got out that there would be no gigs, he thought the situation was somewhat exciting because of all the unknowns. But as reality set in, so did panic. Thanks to the fund, some of this panic has subsided, so Perrine is making the most of his time off. Since he doesn’t have to “deal with the day to days of adult life” during this time, he’s taken time to study music like he used to in college, when he attended James Madison University on a scholarship for jazz studies. 

The fund has been able to raise over $60,000, which is more than they expected to raise, and has given 131 grants so far. However, this still hasn’t been enough to provide for all those in need. 

“We’ve run out of money. Just to be frank, that’s where we are,” Frye said. “We’re excited, because we’re able to meet the needs of those 131 [grant recipients], but then we’re reading the stories of all of the others, and we don’t have the funding to support them all. So that’s challenging.”

For more info on the COVID-19 Arts and Culture Relief Fund, including how to apply and how to donate in support of artists in need, visit richmondcultureworks.org/relief-fund.

Top Photo via CultureWorks Richmond/Facebook

Schools Struggle to Provide Mental Health Resources During Shutdown

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The current quarantine has left many students around Virginia with no access to mental health care previously provided at schools — at the very time when their needs are often most acute.

Virginia school administrators say they are struggling to provide mental health services during the coronavirus pandemic, even as vulnerable students continue with online studies away from regular counseling and support.

As school systems move to virtual learning, school counseling resources, deemed critical to student wellness by the U.S. Department of Education, are unable to provide in-person therapy for high-risk students. The alternative treatments — online sessions or new therapists from community services boards — could fall short in continuing care and supporting students during the pandemic, mental health professionals say.

The global crisis has brought added stress and anxiety to students and their families. More than 100,000 children and teens suffer from mental illness in Virginia, according to the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

The pandemic “is going to exacerbate some of those kids’ symptoms — even the kids that have outside providers,” said Nicolo Porto, a high school social worker in Northern Virginia. “The biggest thing that we’re still working through is we can’t provide mental health services to kids.”

Art by Julie Elman, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau

For many students, access to trusted adults and mental health resources were suddenly cut off on March 23, when Gov. Ralph Northam officially closed schools throughout Virginia for the rest of the academic year. Several other local school boards had made the decision weeks earlier.

“I was genuinely devastated,” said one student from Chesterfield who had been regularly meeting with her school’s resource officer and relied on support from three teachers. The 18-year-old student, who wished to remain anonymous, said her resources at school were like family to her.

“Those four people were my rock. They were the sole reason why I would get out of bed in the morning,” the Chesterfield teen said. “I never got to say a goodbye or anything. One day they were three feet away from me and next they were gone — like someone just turned the light off. I still get emotional thinking about it.”

 Universal efforts are being made across school divisions to help children transition, Maribel Saimre, director of student services at the Virginia Department of Education, wrote in an email. Although schools are providing students and their parents with coping strategies during virtual learning, consistency of care is not guaranteed, she said. 

“Resources vary by community,” Saimre said. “Crisis intervention is available across all community service boards, but other services are going to vary depending on the locality and providers.”

While some school districts are embracing telehealth, others are hesitant to use it as a replacement for in-person treatment. 

Virtual counseling poses privacy concerns, and can produce lower quality care, Porto said.

Porto, who specializes in crisis intervention and trauma, said his role as a school social worker abruptly shifted to an administrative role when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Virginia. Porto had been working regularly with several students when his school district suddenly closed schools. Since his school closed, he has had no contact or time to make contingency plans with any of his students due to legal and ethical concerns.

Art by Julie Elman, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau

Each school district has its own guidelines for how or if counselors can contact their students. For example, some districts allow counselors to send emails to students to check in, but others require specific signed permission for outside-of-school contact related to privacy practices and counseling confidentiality.

School social workers and psychologists in Virginia are not required to complete telehealth training, as it isn’t necessary in typical school environments. Even with training, Porto said the quality of virtual healthcare is diminished because counselors cannot analyze body language.

Mental health professionals also cannot guarantee a confidential environment over a virtual platform. “There’s no way to be sure that their parent isn’t sitting off-camera,” Porto said.

Porto also said that because some families do not believe in mental health treatment, their children lose all of their mental health resources when schools close. Other students who don’t typically seek resources may find themselves in need during social distancing and continued isolation.

School psychologists and social workers are left to focus on providing online resources and communicating with parents, who frequently must initiate contact.

To cope with concerns over treatment gaps, administrators are also referring students to providers outside of the school system. Saimre said some Virginia localities are using an out-of-office voicemail system to refer students to community resources.

“The double-edged sword is that there are actually a lot of places for mental health, but very few of them actually take insurance, and even then, it can still be expensive,” Porto said.

Even if students want to have online therapy sessions, many cannot. In 17 Virginia counties, less than half of the population has access to broadband internet, according to Broadband Now, an advocacy group.

“The well-off kids have access to that, but many, many kids don’t have access to it, so they are caught in a situation where they are deprived,” said Bob Trestman, chair of psychiatry and behavioral health at the Carilion Clinic in Roanoke. “I have no doubt that there are many children who previously were receiving care who now, either no longer have access or, because of the nature of their problems, no longer have the support to continue their care.”

Some districts throughout the state have tried to combat digital inequity by providing computers, tablets or internet hotspots. However, some districts can’t afford it.

“It could have an outsized impact on kids who are not able to connect in person or to connect electronically,” said Lloyd English, a school psychologist for Norfolk Public Schools, where hotspots have been distributed to those in need. He expected the extended period of isolation to be difficult for everyone.

Art by Julie Elman, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau

The economic collapse caused by the pandemic has left many families in financial distress. Over 410,000 Virginians applied for unemployment benefits during the first four weeks of the crisis. A parent’s stress is often felt by their children. 

“As parents, we transmit all of those anxieties to our kids, no matter how hard we try not to,” English said. “Our students definitely feel that pressure, even for the younger ones.”

With mounting financial concerns, children might find it harder to ask for help.

“We’re already starting to see some of our families that may not ordinarily need to access the meal services, coming to the meal service line to get food,” Porto said. “If your basic needs aren’t even met, you can’t begin to think about your health or your mental health. They’re not going to be in an environment that they can do self-care, because they’re just trying to survive.”

 Most school-provided mental health resources will likely remain limited until students are back in classrooms and able to return to in-person counseling. 

Porto said he believes there will be an uptick in students needing mental health services in the fall due to COVID-19, whether the student was personally affected by the disease or other stresses related to the pandemic.

Porto has turned to providing online resources for students and families. He created the Mental Health, Wellness, and Community Resources for Families, which lists places students and families can turn to in order to cope with COVID-19.

“When we come back, it’s going to hit me like a freight train, how little I was able to do,” Porto said. “I [will] have to put on my work hat and deal with that in the moment because that’s what these kids need from us.”

Emergency Mental Health Resources:

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Text “NAMI” to 741741 if you are having suicidal thoughts or urges.

Written By Alexis Angelus and Stacey Dec, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau. Top Photo by Sam Balye on Unsplash

Reopen Virginia Protesters Bombard Capitol With Honks

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As the General Assembly reconvened for an outdoor session, protesters demanding that Virginia end its quarantine converged upon Capitol Square, honking horns and waving signs.

Horns blared and flags waved from vehicle windows as hundreds of Virginians converged Wednesday on Capitol Square to protest restrictions implemented by Gov. Ralph Northam during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Protesters reiterated the message of similar demonstrations taking place in state capitals across the country. The groups hope to influence governors and lawmakers to scale back strict social distancing guidelines and allow businesses and churches to reopen.

“At first we were compliant,” said protester David Decker. “Now it seems like it’s being forced upon us more and more, and we’re absolutely sick of it.”

Many protesters said they disagree that liquor stores are considered an essential business, while many smaller businesses were ordered to close.

“I am against any policy that gives liberty to a corporation over the citizens,” said Jeffery Torres. “Corporations get their interests served while the interests of citizens get ignored.”

A small group of around 20 people — some brought the entire family — gathered near the Capitol Square entrance. Few wore masks or observed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s suggested social distancing recommendation of six feet of space.

Virginia imposed strict social distancing guidelines in late March. Northam issued a series of executive orders closing nonessential businesses and outlining which businesses could remain open. The stay at home order was later extended until June 10. Restaurants closed dining rooms and shifted to carry-out and delivery only. Recreational and entertainment facilities were shuttered, along with beauty salons, spas, massage parlors and other nonessential establishments. Essential businesses such as grocery and convenience stores, pharmacies, pet and feed stores, electronic and hardware retailers, and banks can remain open.

The Virginia Department of Health reports approximately 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the commonwealth as of Wednesday. Northam and health officials maintain that social distancing is keeping cases from skyrocketing.

Unemployment claims have had a dizzying ascent, with the Virginia Employment Commission reporting on April 16 that 410,762 claims were filed since March 21. 

Dr. Erich Bruhn and an unnamed nurse hold signs up as some of the few counter-protesters. Photo by Chip Lauterbach, Capital News Service.

The event was not without counter protesters, among them Dr. Erich Bruhn, a surgeon from Winchester. Bruhn wore a facemask and carried a sign that read, “You have no right to put us all at risk, go home.”

“I came out here today to tell the other side that the majority of people do not agree with this,” Bruhn said. “We want the economy to open up, but it is just too soon according to most scientists.”

As the interview with Bruhn was wrapping up, a female protester leaned out of her car window and shouted at Bruhn, “How long are we supposed to stay inside?”

Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, who has announced her intent to run for governor next year, voiced support for the rally. 

“There will be a number of people at this rally, and it has been well publicized,” Chase said during a Facebook livestream. “I think it sends a great message to the governor to reopen Virginia in a smart, wise way.” 

Protesters drove around the Capitol perimeter honking their horns for three hours. The event coincided with the General Assembly reconvening to respond to Northam’s vetoes and amendments. The House of Delegates, which met under a tent on Capitol grounds, was bombarded by the ongoing ruckus. There were no incidents of violence reported, though one Capitol police officer joked he had a headache from all the noise.

Written by Chip Lauterbach, Capital News Service. All photos by Chip Lauterbach, Capital News Service.

Essentially Invisible: The Impact of COVID-19 on RVA’s “Non-Essential” Businesses

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All sorts of businesses around Richmond are trying to survive in the midst of quarantine; coming up with survival strategies has been even tougher for those deemed non-essential.

With Governor Northam’s recent issue of a mandatory lockdown, it’s clear business won’t be getting back to usual anytime soon.

In the last couple of weeks, there’s been a big push (rightly so) to support local restaurants and breweries. Online delivery and curbside pickup are now the norm, and potentially the only way for these businesses to survive. It’s been amazing to witness the community come together and rally behind these establishments who’ve made our renowned culinary and craft beer scene possible. After all, eating and drinking is essential – not only to our survival, but to our enjoyment of life as well.

But what about the people working in business deemed “non-essential?” From entrepreneurs and artists to retail store owners and fitness instructors, these are the individuals who provide services that, during our current crisis, may not be “essential” for our survival. However, their income (or lack thereof) is directly tied to their survival.

This is the case for my husband and me as we run our own creative studio, EVERGIB. Within a few days, we felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the immediate loss of a brand launch project for a new restaurant. As independent creative professionals, we know all too well that when the economy takes a hit, we’re among the first to be affected. Now, no one is immune. As we self-isolate in our respective homes, we decided to reach out to friends and colleagues working across a variety of fields to learn what their life, and their livelihood, looks like during this challenging time.

The author, Rachel Scott Everett, and her husband, Brian Gibson, are Co-Founders & Creative Directors of EVERGIB, a nomadic creative studio. Photo by EVERGIB.

“Fear and uncertainty” are top of mind for Jason St. Peter, owner of Think, a fellow independent creative services agency in town. Like us, he’s experiencing a decrease in workflow, but trying to keep things in perspective, adding that “the drama happening with the rest of our country’s workforce and health is far more concerning.”

Matthew Freeman is founder of Dialectix Consulting, which offers facilitation and training around diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Almost every single project I had has been cancelled or postponed,” he states. The work is “both high-touch, in-person work and not a priority for organizations when their survival is at stake.”

Kate Thompson, of Kate Thompson Photography and Palindrome Creative, is feeling the crunch as well. A commercial photographer specializing in interior design and hospitality who recently completed work for Quirk Hotel Charlottesville, her focus has now turned to concerns about delayed income and loss of business, since photography is generally viewed as a “luxury” item. To stay hopeful, Thompson says, “I’m reminding myself that this, too, shall pass.” 

Katrina Boone, owner of Gianna Grace Photography and creator of Dancers of RVA, shares similar thoughts. “I never in a million years believed I would lose a whole month’s worth of work that has been scheduled for almost a year… I am now aware of just how fragile best-laid plans can be.”

Jess Burgess is Artistic and Executive Director at Dogtown Dance Theatre, a home for performing artists. Photo by Gianna Grace Photography.

Small business owner Jolinda Smithson of Shapes & Colors used to rely heavily on in-person meetings to generate new business. She’s adapting by connecting and expanding her network virtually. As host of CreativeMornings RVA, she’s particularly mindful of inclusivity within the community, reminding us that “businesses of color will be intensely impacted. It’s important to elevate those stories so folks get the support and resources they need to stay afloat.”

Kristen Ziegler, owner of Minima, a professional organizing and minimalist business, has also had to adapt. “Our business model is based on face-to-face organizing services in our clients’ homes and businesses,” states Ziegler. “Over half of our clients have asked to postpone their sessions. We’re losing at least half of our anticipated revenue as of now, and I only imagine things will get worse as the situation progresses.”

Ashley Hawkins is in a similar situation with her non-profit community arts studio, Studio Two Three. She’s dealing with a substantial loss of revenue due to program cancellations. Therefore, she’s ramped up her studio’s online shop, offering custom prints, shirts, tote bags, and other items for sale. “It’s a great way of supporting the studio and also getting something beautiful to remind us that we are all in this together.”

At Dogtown Dance Theatre, Jess Burgess, Artistic and Executive Director, is not only concerned for the future of her company, but the small staff she employs. Since 2010, Dogtown has been a staple for independent artists and community-based dancers. “In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve been forced to close our doors, closing off access to the classes, performances, and workshops that keep our region culturally vibrant.”

Burgess remarked that on top of the loss of income, the loss of community has been particularly difficult. “Nonprofit organizations, rooted in the community, cannot afford this hit, both to earned and contributed revenue, and the long-term effects it could have on programs and services offered to the public.”

Laine Satterfield is Director of Education at Cadence Theatre Company, an independent theatre. Photo by EVERGIB.

That type of devastating ripple effect translates to the theatre world as well. Laine Satterfield is Director of Education at Cadence Theatre Company, a small, independent performing arts theater. They’ve had to postpone all performances and community events indefinitely, putting the entire close-knit cast and crew in limbo. Ironically, its spring production, Small Mouth Sounds, tells the stories of strangers seeking to find themselves through isolation.

Like countless others, Sonja Stoeckli, owner of Spiritual Flow Yoga, has had to rethink ways of doing business. She and her teachers are offering online classes through Zoom for a reduced fee. “I have to pay my teachers as otherwise, they have no income as well,” she says. “I try to charge a little bit for our classes. It’s hard, as many people are not able to pay anymore because they lost their jobs.” 

Audrey Bonafe, owner of Fighting Gravity Fitness, is faced with similar challenges, and trying to see the bright side of things. “There will always be something to learn and grow from. We will become stronger and wiser. We are all being forced to offer online classes now, and that was something we needed to do anyway.”

That notion of being forced into action seems to be a common theme for everyone. Social entrepreneur Kelli Lemon of Urban Hang Suite, among other ventures, is also trying to take a more positive spin. “We are all in this together. We truly have the opportunity to look at things differently.”

Sonja Stoeckli is owner of Spiritual Flow Yoga, offering vinyasa flow and restorative classes of all levels. Photo by EVERGIB.

They say constraint breeds creativity. And therein is where the solution for the survival of “non-essentials” may lie. It’s about finding creative ways to get through this together. Most likely, the success of our professional lives depends on the support of people. And in times of crisis, we need each other more than ever (that goes for our personal well-being too). It’s up to all of us to find ways to lift each other up, to help create more awareness of the different challenges we face, and to understand that despite our differences, we all share this same burden of uncertainty together.

Already there have been inspiring acts of kindness and selflessness from “non-essentials” leveraging their skills and expertise to help the community. Dustin Artz and Justin Bajan of local ad agency Familiar Creatures created Keep Calm and Nom Nom, a one-stop online shop for purchasing gift cards to support RVA restaurants.

Artist Nico Cathcart and other Richmond muralists designed custom tee shirts that are now for sale on RVA Together. Each purchase provides a donation to Feedmore. Similarly, artist Noah Scalin of Another Limited Rebellion has a limited edition tee shirt for sale, for which all profits will go to support the Sacred Heart Center. Both initiatives are in collaboration with local print shop K2 Custom Tees.

Nico Cathcart is a muralist and painter whose work addresses social issues and inspires activism. Photo by EVERGIB.

Photographer Cade Martin has developed The Creative Now, featuring interviews with creative professionals sharing their experiences about what they’re doing to stay creative. Tania del Carmen, another local photographer, created #OnHoldAtHome, a photography series that aims to shine a light on how, despite the different challenges we face during COVID-19, we’re all connected in a shared vulnerability.

While we’re all justifiably concerned about our individual livelihoods, these examples show the benefit of looking outside ourselves. If we’re feeling invisible, chances are that others are feeling the same way too. Perhaps the best way to help ourselves is by first helping others. There is power in being proactive and taking some kind – any kind – of action.

Reach out. Check in. Start conversations. Don’t just ask people to write a positive testimonial and/or review for your business – do the same for them in return. Refer people’s work and services to those who may have a need for it, particularly those fortunate enough to be maintaining a stable income. If someone refers you, thank them for taking the time to do so. Create a list of the people you know who should know one another, and make introductions for future reference. This is also a great time to become a mentor, or to search for one. Initiatives such as Coffee At A Distance connect experienced industry professionals with graduates, many of whom are entering the job market for the first time.

As we depend even more on our virtual interaction, online and social platforms is where we can particularly make an impact. Tagging, liking, commenting, and promoting people’s work or services may seem insignificant, but can often make a big difference in keeping everyone visible.

OnHoldAtHome is a photography series created by Tania del Carmen documenting the lives of Richmonders during Covid-19. Photo by Tania del Carmen.

Right now, we might not have a lot of control, certainty or peace of mind. But we may have a lot of time. Let’s use it wisely.

Top Photo: Ashley Hawkins is Executive Director and Co-Founder of Studio Two Three, a non-profit community arts studio. Photo by EVERGIB. All photos were taken with the necessary precautions and from a distance of 6+ feet.