katie howie

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by_a.thread

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authentic portraits

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inspired styling

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about katie
katie howie

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by_a.thread

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authentic portraits

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inspired styling

::

about katie

by_a.thread :: pandemic stories


a living history of
a 21st century American community exploring what it means to be human during a global pandemic.

we're all connected by a thread.

All in "pandemic summer & covid fatigue"
cultural strategy manager, friend, sister, & daughter

Aug 31, 2020

cultural strategy manager, friend, sister, & daughter

"...Human beings are pretty fucking incredible. I’m so lucky that I get to listen to people as part of my job. I witness bold truths, powerful stories, and beautiful experiences around love, solidarity, justice, and connection every day... storytelling is how we make meaning, see connections, access our lineage and ancestry... it's an integral part of the human experience... "

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firefighter and EMT

Aug 28, 2020

firefighter and EMT

"...Due to The Pandemic I’m more cautious about protecting myself from possible exposure from my patients and am very meticulous about wearing my PPE. And I make it a priority to be aware of my surroundings while on calls with a potential for violence or police interacting with us, not only at work, but also while I’m off duty..."

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following the thread :: hospital medicine

Aug 27, 2020

following the thread :: hospital medicine

"...This past string of seven sleep deprived overnights in the hospital was a hard one. I saw some very sad Covid cases. But, I saw more "normal" cases and how they have been affected by The Pandemic...these patients weren't able to get the care they needed when they needed it, and it's now spiraled out of control... I just want this thing to leave us all alone already..."

* Photos courtesy of Dr. Lourdes Villaume.

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caretaker and mother

Aug 25, 2020

caretaker and mother

"...Being the wife and caregiver for someone with a serious illness and the mother of a person of color has never been boring, but in this moment of a global pandemic and racial upheaval, it feels like everywhere I look danger is targeted directly at the two people I love the most... If you shout and post and tweet that "All Lives Matter," then please include the two that live with me..."

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registered emergency department nurse

Aug 23, 2020

registered emergency department nurse

"...Many of our patients may have Covid-19, they just don't present like it... and so we would not know, and would not test as they do not present with a Covid-19 symptom profile. It's a scenario that requires us to adhere to strict PPE usage no matter what the chief complaint is... I also hope people start see the value in science and the scientific model, and lean back into it and trust in it wholeheartedly..."

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mother & cervical cancer patient

Aug 21, 2020

mother & cervical cancer patient

Editor's note: it is with a heavy heart that I let the @by_a.thread community know that  beautiful & brave participant Lindsay Norton (@lnortonj33) passed away Friday, August 21, 2020 from cervical cancer. She is missed immensely. Deepest condolences to her husband, five year old son, mother, and all who loved her. This is a gutting reminder to love your people. And to tell them you love them. 

Life is a Gift. We're all connected by a thread.

"...If there was ever a time to be kind to one another and ourselves it’s now... "

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college student

Aug 19, 2020

college student

"...I was at the protests everyday for two weeks after the murder of George Floyd. Then I began volunteering in the neighborhoods that were affected by the store closures. There are two pandemics, COVID-19 and systematic racism... I have nothing but conviction and time..."

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bus operator

Aug 18, 2020

bus operator

"...I want people to know that both masks and fares are required to ride the bus. And that as Bus Operators, we are essential workers who are doing the best we can under difficult circumstances... cleanliness (disinfecting, sanitizing, washing your hands, covering your mouth or sneeze) is not just an option, its a necessity..."

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following the thread :: hospitalist

Aug 17, 2020

following the thread :: hospitalist

"...I probably contracted this at work from an asymptomatic/presymptomatic patient who wasn’t wearing a mask. Going forward, I will insist every patient wear a mask when I’m seeing them because that is most important for preventing the spread..."

* Photo courtesy of Justin Cohenour, MD

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sexual health educator

Aug 13, 2020

sexual health educator

"...I was up late the night Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. I came across the video while scrolling and immediately wished I could unsee it. It was horrifying. The next day, I was glued to the news and social media. By the following night I was down on Lake Street at the protests..."

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second grade teacher

Aug 10, 2020

second grade teacher

"...Something that society might not realize is that teachers are CONSTANTLY observing. We watch kids interact with each other; we notice slight changes in behavior. This allows us to get to the bottom of what is going wrong or right in students' lives. It was really difficult for me to do that for the last 3 months of school, and I worried so much about so many of my kids..."

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support local farmers

Aug 09, 2020

support local farmers

...They have taken their Farmer's Market bounty ordering online Fridays to then directly bring it to your door on Saturday! This is what my family received - it was as delicious as it is gorgeous. I highly recommend you put in an order for the next Saturday you are able:

https://hangfarm.company.site 

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stay strong. stay safe. stay home.

Aug 08, 2020

stay strong. stay safe. stay home.

On the way to tell a story, a reminder...

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chef & restaurant owner

Aug 07, 2020

chef & restaurant owner

"...Being a chef isn't just about being in a kitchen or behind a grill...it's about understanding and addressing the full culture of the service industry. And how that affects the people who work for and with you...we don't just need food, because we do. But we need food because it is also a language of love and hope..."

Editor's Note: In the spring of 2021 Vang will be opening Vinai, a brick and mortar restaurant in Northeast Minneapolis, honoring the past, present and future of Hmong cooking.

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storytelling in rondo

Aug 07, 2020

storytelling in rondo

On the way to tell a story in Rondo...

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with love all things are possible

Aug 05, 2020

with love all things are possible

Purnell Moralez-Barnes shares his newest tattoo...

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911 dispatcher

Aug 04, 2020

911 dispatcher

"...I wish people knew that talking to a 9.1.1 dispatcher does not slow the process of getting help to the scene. Many people think the more questions we ask the longer it takes for first responders to get there or the quicker they hang up the quicker responders will arrive. That is a huge myth. We work as a team..."

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westside grocery

Aug 03, 2020

westside grocery

On the way to tell a story...

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listen to the trees

Aug 01, 2020

listen to the trees

Don't feel guilty. Get mad.

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stagehand

Jul 31, 2020

stagehand

"...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... The entire industry that I’ve worked in for my entire adult life is gone. It’s smoke in the wind now..."

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senior director of diversity & foundations

Jul 28, 2020

senior director of diversity & foundations

"...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..."

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

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mask up, minnesota!

Jul 25, 2020

mask up, minnesota!

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.

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say thank you

Jul 23, 2020

say thank you

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.

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hospitalist

Jul 22, 2020

hospitalist

" ...It’s hard work, not just the standard medical treatment and providing good patient care, but also the exhaustion of educating the public... Wear a mask. Care about others as if they were your family. Fight for racial equality. And treat The Earth with respect..."

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kindergarten teacher

Jul 20, 2020

kindergarten teacher

"...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..."

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pandemic art dreams: now with curbside pickup

Jul 20, 2020

pandemic art dreams: now with curbside pickup

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...

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you got this

Jul 19, 2020

you got this

I'm trying. And I know you are, too. Also, wear your damn mask.

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junior high & senior high students

Jul 16, 2020

junior high & senior high students

"...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..."

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broadcast engineer

Jul 15, 2020

broadcast engineer

"...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..."

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on the east side

Jul 14, 2020

on the east side

Art as protest on the East Side of St. Paul, Minn.

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temporarily closed. be well.

Jul 13, 2020

temporarily closed. be well.

Sign reads :: Temporarily Closed. Be Well. Mickey's Dining Car, Downtown St. Paul, Minn.

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east side pride

Jul 12, 2020

east side pride

Story Telling on The East Side of St. Paul...

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business owner, middle school phy ed/health teacher, & personal care attendant

Jul 12, 2020

business owner, middle school phy ed/health teacher, & personal care attendant

"...I serve people through all three of my jobs. For my business I teach several classes a week... As a school teacher I have at least 140 kids each day. Last, but definitely not least, I'm my sister Jasmine's Personal Care Attendant..."

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connection

Jul 11, 2020

connection

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...

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waitstaff at senior living facility

Jul 09, 2020

waitstaff at senior living facility

"...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... I feel insecurity, and above all, I realize the injustices that happen and that there is no equality..."

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science is real

Jul 08, 2020

science is real

All of this. SCIENCE IS REAL. Wear your damn masks, America!

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small biz love

Jul 08, 2020

small biz love

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).

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chief financial officer of a non-profit

Jul 06, 2020

chief financial officer of a non-profit

"...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... We will see the tail of this for a while and we must remember and continue to act and really see... If your eyes are more open, please keep them that way... "

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sr. director of business architecture

Jul 04, 2020

sr. director of business architecture

"...Our form of government & the economic system which enables it have become destructive to the ends aspired to in its creation... We have a generational opportunity to create a new beginning for our society, built on a renewed understanding of those aspirations and clear acknowledgement of how we failed to live up to them..."

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elementary math teacher

Jul 03, 2020

elementary math teacher

" ...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..."

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protest art

Jul 02, 2020

protest art

...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?

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chapters

early pandemic murder of george floyd & civil unrest pandemic summer & covid fatigue back to school pandemic election surge, restrictions, & pandemic holidays winter solstice & vaccination arrival inauguration & a national strategy a new normal

recent stories

waiting
Apr 07, 2021
following the thread (vaccination) :: lieutenant governor
Apr 05, 2021
registered nurse & mother
Apr 05, 2021

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