We dropped three new stories - Issue #59

photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash.com

Hey, thanks for all your responses to last week's newsletter. I am looking at all your suggestions.

For December, we dropped three new stories that report on the intersection of Covid-19 and the Black community. The Intersection talked with The Arc of Prince George's County, a non-profit organization that serves children with developmental disabilities. The article talks about how the organization navigated the pandemic, and how its experience converged with the Prince George's County Public School system. We also interviewed members of the Johnson family, whose family was impacted by Covid-19. Lastly, interviewed Michael Marshall, who has long-covid. He still has problems breathing and memory loss. Links are below.

When Antonika Johnson, daughter, and Victoria Johnson, mother, both retell the tragic events of 2020 as if they happened yesterday. Victoria’s husband – Anthony, a son, nephew, brother and father – life and sudden death are still tethered to their memories. “ We were married for 38 years,” said Victoria of her husband. Both mother, daughter and other family members bear the wound of Anthony’s death. Antonika’s emotions are not only lacerated by the death of her father, but her body bears the wounds of long-covid, and scars of surgery.

Covid-19 disrupted The Arc's mission to serve parents and guardians with disabled children, causing its staff to rethink how it was going to serve them in the middle of a pandemic. Additionally, the coronavirus would help to exacerbate existing barriers among the disabled community in Prince George’s County.

He told me that before Covid-19 hit was in the process of purchasing a house. On top of all this other kinds of success, Marshall, a Virginia resident, is a vegan, he worked out like so many other Black people, and had no pre-existing conditions. Yet, Covid-19 invaded his body and disabled it. 

Community Spotlight

Connie Amos Parsons, who helped to organize the event, is on the bike.

Connie Amos-Parsons, Founder/CEO At Your Service Events Planner LLC, on Dec. 18 served foster care families in Prince George's County by giving 10 children ages 3 to 12 years old gifts. Parsons said that they planned this event back in October. Gift-giving to this population is something that they plan to do annually.