" ...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..."

" ...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..."

"... 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..."

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... 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. 

Learning. Listening.

"...my older colleagues were instrumental early in the pandemic in helping prepare me for how I would change as a pharmacist. I remember conversations on how it was becoming clear that the pandemic would be an event that would change how we practice and lead in the community..."

" ...It's still so difficult it is to keep both the clients and service providers comfortable and safe at this challenging time. My biggest fear is getting sick and not being with my family... I can’t imagine passing isolated and without loved ones..."

"...I'm fearful of additional outbreaks stemming from people gathered at protests but feel justice and changes to a broken system can't wait for COVID-19 to pass..."

" ...I am uncomfortable - and glad for it. For as long as I and millions of others feel this level of discomfort with the status quo, we will build a coalition for the future in which no demographic needlessly suffers and dies - by police weapon or pandemic - because of inequality and injustice..."

Merriam Park Library, St. Paul, Minn.

Say their names.

And it's gonna be better. Because when you know better, you do better.

Ax-Man Surplus, Midway, St. Paul, Minn.

Turf Club, Midway, St. Paul, Minn.

" ...I will continue to have 'the talk' with my young son and grandsons. I hope we can get to a world where we won't have to do that anymore. But. I worry every day for the safety of my children... I have never seen so much giving from our community. It gives me hope that things will change... "

" ...Everything you see and touch in your home, work, neighborhood, is shipped from somewhere. Moving cargo from Point A to Point B is not easy... My job demands me to be a controller of everything. The Pandemic is such a hard lesson- we really can control only so much..."

" ...I was born and have lived in a place of privilege, that until the last decade of my life and the Black Lives Matter, and Me Too movement began, I wasn't really, truly, aware of... Unworried, unhurried, by the thought that it could be one of MY children or loved ones who suffer similarly..."

Human. Together.

On the way to tell a story... The Church of St. Mark, Merriam Park, St . Paul, Minn.

"...She turned to me, laughed loudly, and said, 'Anna! This is what black people experience EVERY DAY! This is so good for all you white people - to be afraid for your lives!'  

THIS is white privilege..."

...Thank you to all the fantastic teachers, staff, kids and parents. The Pandemic has made my family realize how truly Essential school is to the fabric of our communities and to each child's success...

" ...Since The Pandemic I’ve become more reclusive and OCD about being clean. It got even worse when my father contracted the Covid 19 virus which eventually took his life in early May. It hits different when it hits home..."

Flowers from the garden of a by_a.thread participant. Rest in Power, Mr. Floyd.

"...George Floyd’s murder is so close for our family. My husband... is always so conscientious about his actions. I have teased him about his cautiousness myself. George Floyd died 4 blocks from where we used to live (a place we still own). His death turns the teasing into poison in my mouth..."

Learning. Listening. Supporting. CHANGING. 

One day at a time. Black Lives Matter.

Listen. Learn. Donate. Repeat.

...It's Essential that we all show up for the Communities of Color in our Twin Cities and throughout our nation. White silence is violence.

Consider donating - Wait. Don't just consider it. DO IT. DONATE to the following:                                       

@blackvisionscollective

@mnfreedomfund 

@aclumn 

@blklivesmatter 

@mnfoodshare

Groveland Barbershop, Macalester-Groveland, St. Paul, Minn.

Hate has NO PLACE in Minnesota. Sign by ahava Creative Co.

"...We have employees staffing homeless shelters, serving meals to the community, providing interpretation services, developing virtual programming and figuring out how we address community needs for summer...I think we’ve seen a lot pride, resiliency and caring for one another..."

" ...I’m more tired than ever due to long stacked shifts and find it hard to engage when I’m at home due to exhaustion... However, I’m incredibly grateful for my job and passionate about the work I do. Now, more than ever, I believe I was made to be a nurse..."

" ...I was brought up to thrust my wisdom into the elderly. They are living libraries. Our elders are hit harder than anybody else by the pandemic... I am worried about the elders leaving us so soon when they are supposed to enjoy their time with their kids and grandkids..."

Black lives matter.