Listen to the trees
Don't feel guilty. Get mad.
An ongoing project featuring Essential Workers at home with their families.
We're all connected by a thread.
Don't feel guilty. Get mad.
". . .I think there will be a profound reckoning of what America is, and I think on the other side we’ll see something like Lake Street on the Thursday morning, May 28th: people coming together to take care of each other, lining up for hours to donate food, bringing their kids out to sweep up broken glass, to rebuild the community. Motherfuckers were out on their bikes at 9am with brooms and dustpans scouring uptown for something to clean up. . ."
". . .After George Floyd was killed, my world contracted. I’d thought life had shrunk when quarantine kicked in, I mean, I wasn’t checking the news at all, wasn’t engaging with people. But those nights spent watching the street into the early hours - when I parked the car facing out so our get away could be a little quicker if we needed it, when I cleared all those photos of my son off of my phone in case I needed to take pictures of suspicious cars or people - that’s when everything became very immediate. . ."
". . .I’ve been working for 18 years, developing skills, growing a network, building a reputation for myself in live theater, and it’s all gone now. I can’t get an equivalent job somewhere else. I can’t scrape together gigs and call in favors and go freelance. I can’t relocate - there’s nowhere in the country, there’s not another place in the world that I could move to and start again...The entire industry that I’ve worked in for my entire adult life is gone. It’s smoke in the wind now. . ."
". . .We've had our blinders pulled back, as we have been forced to sit and watch the police murder a man, without the luxury of being able to looking away or be distracted. We can take these lessons and use them to dramatically change our day-to-day lives, even post-COVID-19. But it requires a willingness to defy the status quo and strive for something better.
The world doesn't change. People change the world. . ."
Editor's note: Minnesota's Primary Election takes place on August 11, 2020. If you would like to learn more about Athena and her campaign, visit athenahollins.com
". . .I had been running for a MN State House seat up until mid-April, when I narrowly lost the DFL Endorsement. I had packed up my materials and suspended my campaign. And then George Floyd was murdered. . ."
Editor's note: Minnesota's Primary Election takes place on August 11, 2020. If you would like to learn more about Athena and her campaign, visit athenahollins.com
". . .Our society is built on systems, and most of these systems have been designed to benefit certain people and leave others behind. Because these systems have been in place for so many decades, it's hard for many people to imagine what a world without them would look like; but that difficultly cannot paralyze us. . ."
Perfect afternoon for Minnesota Nice Cream! Their Covid19 safety protocols were awesome, including the sanitization station featured in photo number four. And! Everyone waiting in line was masked! We absolutely can have fun and be safe.
"Wear a mask. Care about others as if they were your family. Fight for racial equality. And treat The Earth with respect."
While photographing Dr. Justin Cohenour, the man in the second photo (who you can see opening the door in the first image) popped out of the building to thank the doctor for being an Essential Worker. They had never met before, and yet the exchange was so heartfelt. It was a beautiful moment.
" . . .It’s hard work, not just the standard medical treatment and providing good patient care, but also the exhaustion of educating the public. On the other hand, seeing the response to George Floyd has actually provided some hope. Seeing people come together and the real change that we’ve already achieved is awesome. . ."
". . .I've been fortunate to teach in the same school for 24 years and have made connections, friendships and long lasting relationships with kids and families...it is a treasure. I wouldn't ask for a different profession no matter the challenges faced. I hope I can be a positive force in this world. And I plan to work to be the teacher that all students deserve. . ."
". . .Before the murder of George Floyd I would have simply stated either 'I am not racist' or 'I don't see color'. I now realize how simplistic and inaccurate those statements are. As a teacher I have gone through many training sessions around equity and bias. I truly believed that it didn't apply that much to me. I have worked with BIPOC children and families for 25 years and have always thought I was doing things right, fair and equitable. But guess what. White privilege. . ."
". . .One of the reasons I love teaching kindergarten is because I take seriously the responsibility to lay the groundwork for years to come. I am a relationship driven teacher. I love getting to know my students, their siblings, and their families. With the switch to distance learning, I lost one of the most important things...relationships and face-to-face learning. . ."
Macalester-Groveland neighborhood gem Wet Paint. Offering curbside pickup to make all your Pandemic Art Dreamz come true. Or at least to fill a summer afternoon...
I'm trying. And I know you are, too. Also, wear your damn mask.
". . .Luckily, we’ve learned better ways to adapt to things like school, teachers stepped up a lot and made sure we were able to do distance learning. The essential workers are STILL working and choosing to work for the good of others. They’re putting their health at risk to help others, while getting paid less/ the same amount as before this all started. . ."
". . .Our society depends on teachers and schools WAY more than most parents and all politicians ever realized. Not only in terms of teaching our children but as day care or safe spaces while parents are at work. As a place for children to get healthy meals and snacks. As a safe space to act like kids, whether that means socializing or acting out, it is a place where they can safely be themselves. So hopefully we start investing more in our schools and teachers. . ."
". . .To see people in our country so easily give up on protecting others and feeling victimized for having safety measures put in place is disheartening. Politicizing the issue makes me angry. I have made a real effort to stop reading as many comments as I used to. I think this has helped my blood pressure and overall feeling of dread come down a bit. I still check in on the people close to me but not as often as I once was. . ."
Art as protest on the East Side of St. Paul, Minn.
". . .At the beginning of The Pandemic I was forced to isolate and had more time to think about what I really want to accomplish in life. I've come to the conclusion that my main mission in life now is to start a family of my own. I want to settle down and have kids...Oddly enough I was blessed to find the love of my life during this crazy time. I met my soul mate through a dating app. We had over 20 FaceTime dates averaging 3-4 hours per date before we decided to meet in person. . ."
Sign reads :: Temporarily Closed. Be Well. Mickey's Dining Car, Downtown St. Paul, Minn.
Story Telling on The East Side of St. Paul...
". . .I serve people through all three of my jobs. All three of my jobs require me to be hands on with the people that I work with. As an extremely extroverted people person, the pandemic has caused me to struggle tremendously because we've all had to be isolated. For my business I teach several classes a week with at least 20 people in each class. As a school teacher I have at least 140 kids total in my 1st -6th period classes each day. Last, but definitely not least, I'm my sister Jasmine's Personal Care Attendant. Since she is my sister I'm very hands on with her. . ."
I received this lovely bracelet from friend and participant Mel Shirley. While photographing participant Ada Zepeda I had an immediate connection with her and gifted her the bracelet on the spot. I quickly snapped this photo before placing it on the ground for her to safely grab- We're all connected by a thread...
". . .Right now we need peace and justice. And people with noble hearts...For in God we are all equal. We must give and show love, compassion and generosity. And above all equality. . ."
". . . I serve food to people, charge for their meals, sometimes I carry their food and I listen to their thoughts. I also work with the fear of not knowing what will happen tomorrow. And with the murder of George Floyd it is worse... horrible. I feel insecurity, and above all, I realize the injustices that happen and that there is no equality. . ."
All of this. SCIENCE IS REAL. Wear your damn masks, America!
Small Biz Love for Cafe Latte in St. Paul! They've been doing a great job keeping the community feed with healthy, delicious food throughout The Pandemic. Open for take out or dine-in (I just picked up for tonight bc I have have a @by_a.thread story to tell at dinner time).
". . .It will take time to heal and move through and there will be things that change. We have in some ways lost connections and it may be a while before comfort is there again...We will see the tail of this for a while and we must remember and continue to act and really see. This cannot just be a moment, it needs to be an always. If your eyes are more open, please keep them that way. . ."
". . .When the news of George Floyd hit, my daughters knew there would be some action. They had fear, naturally, that people would get hurt, and at the same time were angry he was murdered by a person who is supposed to help. We made signs and talk about the Black Lives Matter movement and why those words are important. We talk about their memories and feelings when they hear and see stories about the border and how so many people seem to hate immigrants and people with brown and black skin. They wonder why. And it is so hard to explain. . ."
" . . .During this pandemic, and in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, it is more important than ever to be present as an organizational and community leader. Most people think of roles like mine, more "office roles" as being able to stay home, but the reality is, I have to work more and show up more to keep money flowing so our teams can work and our community can be served with little to no impact. . . "
". . . Show up however you are able. Listen. Learn. Think. Act. Engage. Advocate for BIPOC voices. Amplify both their anger & joy.
And VOTE. Vote like our life together depends upon it.
Because though it may be frayed and at times difficult to see, this thread is what connects & holds us all together. . ."
". . .I initially felt fortunate that the only thing the pandemic really changed for me was the location from which I worked, the additional precautions our family took to protect our immune-compromised youngest daughter, and a new side job supporting my artist spouse on a passion project when her business evaporated. Was any of this easy? No, but that's not the point...George Floyd's murder and its aftermath brought into acute clarity the magnitude to which privilege played a role in enabling me to adapt. . ."
" . . .I feel like we live in a country where people feel that if we build up one group of people it is at the expense of another. This is just bad math. I worry that we will never as a country accept that when you build up one group of people you are building up everyone. . ."
The protest art following the murder of George Floyd is largely down in the areas I frequent. But. The messages remain relevant. Protest isn't a one-time action. It's a way of being. It's where you spend your money (and where you don't). It's voting (or not voting). It's wearing a mask in public spaces (or not). These small things add up to who we are.
So. Who are you?
" . . .America is still our country while we let tyrants and imbeciles lead it, and love is still our mission while the corporate ruling class tries to divide and tear us apart at every turn. I believe in the trajectory of expanding human consciousness, but not in the speed of it being quick enough to avoid immense suffering. It's not morning in America; it's the long night, the long emergency. . ."
Editor's note: David Huckfelt has a new album coming out in fall 2020. It's called "Room Enough, Time Enough". It's available for pre-order on vinyl & CD:
" . . .My job is gone. Musicians spend their lives in one of the most fragile and uncertain professions; on a good day, in a good year, you almost never know where your next payday is coming from. In Covid Times, what that means is we were basically the first business to go away, and we'll be the last to return. . ."
Editor's note: David Huckfelt has a new album coming out in fall 2020. It's called "Room Enough, Time Enough". It's available for pre-order on vinyl & CD:
" . . .I worry that my only child won’t get to go back to school in the fall. I worry about when I will see my mother and brother and grandparents again, and the risk to them when I do. I worry what another round of shutdowns might do to our clinic and employees and patients - Many people have more fear of losing their eyesight than dying of COVID-19. . ."
R.F. Moeller Jeweler storefront in Highland Park, St. Paul. Beautiful art by Juan T Parker
". . . I’ve felt a heavy responsibility, and guilt, as a privileged white man since the murder of George Floyd. As a retail store owner, I typically try to lay low and not offend anyone; but I can’t live like that anymore. We’ve been in our neighborhood for almost 70 years and I think people look to us for leadership. . ."
". . . Because I am a clinician, the pandemic is still occupying the majority of my brain, but it’s the killing of George Floyd that’s occupying most of my heart. I am hopeful that there is a shift in how we view and frame things, how we do things; perhaps a more cohesive and cooperative approach to humanity. I hope. . ."
I dreamed up the cake and the collaboration with fantastic pastry chef Francois Kiemde of @pjmurphysbakerymn (and his delightful wife, @melissakiemde).
"... This is a REVOLUTION. Things will hopefully only get better. We're fighting for our lives. People (mainly white) are realizing what we've been saying for hundreds of years. We matter. I think that it's opening eyes and opening hearts and I hope that it changes the world for the better. It has to..."
Honored to be a contributor, as well as featured in, the July/August 2020 issue of Minnesota Monthly Magazine.
"...my challenge is to fight systemic racism by helping people correct these long-term health problems. At the same time, our pharmacy has become overwhelmed with people who need our services since most pharmacies in the area were either looted, or temporarily closed, or burned down. We are fortunate to have survived the riots with minimal looting at our pharmacy and we are back to doing whatever we can to help."
Learning. Listening.
" ... Early on I worried most about getting sick and infecting my family. But as our society has moved through the pandemic and we continue to learn more about the virus, my worries have changed. My worry has shifted from a personal fear of the virus, to a fear of human behavior. Human behavior is often predictable, or even inevitable, and as a result human history often repeats itself."
