RobbyGee was photographed as part of the Portraits of Pride series in October of 2020. For those who read his incredibly moving story, you may remember him as a “Thriver and HIV Survivor”.
Recently, two of his sons — Matthew and Andrew — moved in with him.
Andrew is a licensed CNA and moved to Akron from North Carolina to be his father’s caretaker.
“I had been having some falls lately and needed a caretaker,” RobbyGee said. “Because I’ve had numerous orthopedic surgeries over the years — six spinal, one hip replacement and one shoulder replacement — my pain levels. I’ve been a fall risk for a few months now.”
Without regular visits to the gym due to COVID-19, RobbyGee says his strength has waned. He says he’s fallen at home four times in just over one month.
The second photograph was captured on Christmas Day, after I received a kind message from RobbyGee on Christmas morning. I asked what his plans were, worried that he may be spending the holiday alone.
He replied, saying he felt lucky to spend Christmas with two of his sons. I replied with an eager heart, and offered to come by and capture their photo. After I captured their photos, we tried to stay warm outside and talked about RobbyGee’s family.
“All of my sons and daughters are my chosen children who needed a good father figure,” RobbyGee said. “My five other sons and three daughters are probably jealous, but I am happy that I get to spend the holiday with a couple of my children.”
Austin Walkin' Cane /
Austin Walkin’ Cane (known to is friends as Auggie) is a Delta blues musician. His clever stage name stems from his use of a cane for a decade of his life. Auggie said that he was born with an arteriovenous malformation which caused him to need to use a cane by the time he was 16 years old. Auggie jokingly said, “I went and ruined the nickname by getting a prosthetic leg in 1996. The amputation was my choice. Crazy. I have no regrets. It was probably the best thing for me at the time, mentally & physically. I don’t need a cane anymore, but I kept the name.”
For @austinwalkincane , the pandemic has not been too tough. Though all venues were shut down and he had no prospective gigs on the horizon, he was optimistic. Early in the pandemic, a friend of Auggie’s reached out, asking if he had an interest in performing at a less traditional type of venue. That venue was a Dairy Queen parking lot. The dining room was closed, giving customers the opportunity to hear live music while they enjoyed their ice cream outside.
Although the scenario might seem strange, Auggie said he loved it and might be doing it again this summer.
He would set up in the North Ridgeville Dairy Queen parking lot nearly every week (weather permitting) throughout the summer and fall. During one of Auggie’s “DQ gigs”, a man asked if he took requests. Auggie happily performed the gentleman’s request. The man took his wife’s hand and danced with her while Auggie sang Stand by Me. “It was something special I will never forget,” said Auggie. “I created a moment for them, and for me. For a few minutes it didn’t even feel like we were in a pandemic.”
Kimberly & Kendell /
May, 2020
December, 2021
Kimberly & Kendell were last photographed in May of 2020—Kendell was a junior in high school and Kimberly was working from home. Kimberly said that there were some pros and cons to her work/life balance throughout the pandemic. One pro being that she was able to take time for rest and enjoy a slower paced life.
“Once we were able to start enjoying some of the "normal" gatherings, my schedule got crazy busy super quick! This caused some major anxiety with trying to find the time to rest while enjoying seeing people IRL,” said Kimberly. “It is weird how fast time has flown in the Pandemic, yet it seems like we are stuck in a time warp.
One major thing to note since our last photo is my friend Bronlynn and I co-founded Black Women Explore in May 2020. During quarantine I developed a love of hiking and the outdoors. Bronlynn was already an outdoor pro, so we combined forces and became co-explorers. Black Women Explore is an Akron-based outdoor recreation group centering on creating space for Black and Brown women in our community to connect with nature and try new things. Black and Brown people have often been excluded from the outdoor recreation community and we’d like to combat that.”
Kendell is currently a freshman at The Ohio State University. She lives on campus and has enjoyed school and has adapted to regular interactions with robots on campus. For those who might not be familiar with these robots (like me) take a look at @osufoodrobots to see “campus life” these days.
When asked the question ‘How has COVID affected yourself and family?’ Kimberly responded,
“In this month alone, COVID has had a major impact on me and my family. After almost two years of being cautious, having my bubble and getting vaccinated, I unfortunately fell ill with COVID a few weeks ago. I am fortunate that I am vaccinated because my case was mild and I was able to recover without any major lasting effects. I am also thankful that my isolation period ended just in time for Kendell to come home for the holiday.”
Kimberly and Kendell were able to enjoy a quiet holiday together and are looking forward to 2022!
Rachel, Beau, Max, Amber /
April, 2020
October, 2021
“Max is trach/ventilator dependent and has a rare genetic disorder which is a result of the malformation of the PIK3CA gene. Due to his extensive medical conditions, it’s been a scary time trying to decipher the misinformation and cope w/ the unknowns. His nurse Amber answers my endless questions and helps us take the proper steps to make sure that Max is safe and still progressing. She doesn’t just work here, she’s part of our family.” - Rachel, 05/01/2020.
Oct., 2021: Amber has worked with Max for 3yrs.
While Rachel has been tending to Max and Beau’s needs, she had some setbacks of her own health.
She shared: “A random serendipitous story."
“Long ago, I saw a commercial for a drug that treats a specific kind of cancer that results from a PIK3CA gene malformation. Amber + I discussed how weird it was that the two were connected.
6 months go by. I find a lump in my breast. I go to the doctor and he says he thinks it’s nothing. I express my concern because of the gene connection; he ordered the testing immediately.
We were able to catch the cancer very early. Stage 1, grade 1. By the time I had surgery a month later, it had already spread to my lymph nodes. Waiting 2 months would have drastically changed my diagnosis + treatment plan.
After years of doing everything I can to save Max’s life, he potentially returned the favor.”
Rachel’s follow up imaging came back clear! Recovery hasn’t stopped her from going to Beau’s baseball games, assessing Max’s medical needs, and trying to stay on top of a never ending to-do list.
“Andy, my fiancé, and I work well together to get everything done, but it’s tough sometimes because I just want a break.
We were hoping to get Max’s trach out, but it wasn’t in the cards. He’s working on standing, learning new signs, is in preschool doing therapies and improving weekly.
I’m constantly looking at everything we’re doing now + how we could be doing it better. I rarely take the time to admire how far he’s come. This was an excellent reminder to take a minute to pat ourselves on the back for not only surviving this last year and a half, but coming out the other side better.”
The Barton Family /
June, 2020
July, 2021
Though they have full time jobs and other responsibilities, Lizette & Mike Barton are all in when it comes to Barton Farm and Gardens. Their kids, Ellie and Max, both contribute to the farm, as do other close family members.
The group photo includes Mike’s parents, Keith & Diane Barton. Mike & Liz share the same wedding anniversary as Mike's parents. Today, on July 30th they celebrate 10 years of marriage while Keith & Diane celebrate 44.
These “wannabe farmers” have been vending at Haymaker Farmers’ Market for 10yrs and Liz has been on the board of directors since 2013. “It's hands down one of the most rewarding things in my life,” said Liz. “Haymaker runs year-round. When the pandemic hit, we quickly pivoted to a drive-thru model that ran from March through May and then moved back to a walk-up model. We knew customers needed local food. More importantly, we knew vendors were counting on the market for income. The drive-thru was successful. The market's customer count continues to rise and personally, we are having a great season.
I think a lot of people realized that when the shit goes down, you can count on your local community. Wal-Mart may have been out of ground meat but the farmers at Haymaker weren't. More importantly, the quality is 1000% better, and when you buy from local sources you're directly supporting small businesses and families. We could all do better by investing more in the people and businesses in our communities, especially our local food community.”
Community pride is something the Bartons come by honestly. They are continuing a legacy that began generations ago.
“This land has been in our family for over 100 years. I never dreamed I'd end up here, but here we are. Each year our garden gets a little bigger—we plant more fruit trees and berry bushes and we raise more turkeys and chickens. Teaching our kids how to grow, harvest, and cook their own food is important. Teaching how much work goes into the food we eat is critical if we want them to make good decisions about their food when they're adults.
We could not do ANY of this, without Keith and Diane. Thank goodness for family.”
Iman & Indigo /
July, 2020
This beautiful naturalistic momma and son were photographed last summer as part of the Portraits of Pride series. “The pandemic has presented challenges with life as it has for most,” said Iman. “I’m grateful for the pandemic—this moment to rest and heal! I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2013, having experienced a lot of musculoskeletal pain since my childhood, my pregnancy brought on more neuropathy that I still feel. I’ve been focused on creating a routine that sets me up for success. Nursing and strengthening old injuries to a better state of wellness along with my mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Self care is key!”
Iman & Indigo moved from CLE to Akron during the pandemic. Having lived in Akron before, the move was not too tough, other than missing being close to their family. They have been able to get in some socializing, but Iman is searching for more. “I wish Indigo could be around more babies his age—maybe at a mommy and me group for natural and holistic minded mommas and our starseeds,” said Iman. “I love parts of Cleveland, however I missed Akron because it's small, quick to get around, quiet, has a lot of diversity and a lot of nature. Cleveland holds a lot of history for me that makes me want to be anywhere else, but has a lot more to offer than Akron in terms of attractions like pole dance studios, and all sorts of good unique eats. I hope to someday move somewhere warm! My joints need warmth! Place me on the equator.”
“The future is uncertain. I'm learning to cope. I wish I knew what was next. I've placed my ideas on hold— I need to focus on my wellness.” Iman continued, “with so many accumulated injuries, I haven't been this immobile, ever. As I prepare for a possible surgery, I truly need my rest after years of going going going. Indigo is huge and growing, he’s such an active, precious little adventurer. I want to be able to keep up with him and take him on walks. It’s hard with muscle weakness, numbness and hyper-mobility.”
“It's become so apparent that until I address my health and wellness, everything I try to create outside of self will be a reflection of my state within.”
Emily /
March, 2020
May, 2020
November, 2021
The first portrait I captured of Emily was during the Stay at Home order. She was working as an RN at an Emergency Department and was 8 months pregnant with her second child.
About 1 month after her portrait was captured for the Essential series, she was photographed at home with her husband, Zach, their son, Leo, and their newborn daughter, Charlie.
Emily is pregnant with baby #3 and is still working as an RN in the Emergency Department.
“Each pregnancy has been very different,” Emily said. “When I was pregnant with Charlie, I was so scared coming to work for my safety and her safety. There were too many unknowns and being in the ER was extremely stressful. People were afraid to come to the hospital, so we weren’t very busy, which made things a little more manageable.
This time around I feel more comfortable for my safety. We have learned a lot about COVID, and I was vaccinated. I will be boosted here shortly! However, the ER/hospitals are at maximum capacity. And a new level of stress is arising… Even our ICUs are full. I’ve never seen that happen before. We regularly have 50+ people in the waiting room and we do our best to see and treat everyone appropriately. It’s exhausting.”
Emily shared that the pandemic has been the most difficult and overwhelming chapter of her nursing career to date. The challenges she has faced day in and day out have created a new worry—what if her loved ones need medical attention while the hospitals are at capacity? She presses on and continues to work in the Emergency Department until she will take some time off for maternity leave.
“I love what I do and I love all my roles as a caregiver/mom,” Emily said. There is nothing sweeter than quality time with family and friends. I’m looking forward to the challenges of maternity leave with my 3.5 year old, Leo, and 1.5 year old, Charlie. I’m excited to be able to bring new life into the world. I can’t wait to see my new baby’s sweet face, and find out the gender!”
Maureen /
Pandemic Postscripts and Portraits of Pride collide to give you this story of Maureen, Eric and Kevin. Maureen was photographed last spring as part of the Stay at Home series. Since then, she has quite a story to share!
“I decided to go on a journey about a year ago to become a gestational surrogate for two men who felt like family from the first time we met,” said Maureen.
Eric and Kevin met in Scotland in 2014, and currently live in Michigan. They have always wanted to be dads, but the journey has not been simple. “We had several interviews with surrogacy agencies and adoption agencies. The process was so deflating,” said Kevin. “We thought we had to accept that this dream of being parents is not a reality.”
They pressed forward, but then the pandemic hit the US. Stay at Home orders went into effect. “The pandemic gave us the chance to take more time to research this properly. It felt like an exam I was prepared for,” Kevin said.
“Trying to find a surrogate who clicked was hard,” said Eric. “It was important for us to find someone who wanted to remain involved with the child’s life.”
*
One night, Maureen went to bed thinking “I would be a surrogate. I liked being pregnant and I would love to give this gift to someone”. Days later, an old friend reached out to her out of the blue and shared Kevin and Eric’s story. The three connected last June. Maureen was amazed: "I couldn’t believe I put that into the universe just two days ago and I already got that message.”
Maureen and her husband, Jeremiah, met Kevin and Eric last summer and they connected immediately. Not long after, they began the journey together.
“I had two hard red lines: I want someone who wants me to be a part of the family and I didn’t want to use my eggs,” Maureen said.
Kevin and Eric agreed. “Our kids are going to have two dads. At some point the kids are going to have questions. We want to be as honest as we can.”
*
In January, they transferred one embryo. Two weeks later, Maureen shared the exciting news that the embryo transfer was a success! At their 6-week scan, Maureen, Eric and Kevin learned that they were expecting twins. One week later, they were shocked to learn the embryo split one more time and that they would now be expecting triplets!
Now, Maureen is 28 weeks pregnant with 3 identical girls for Eric and Kevin.
“It’s an absolute honor to be able to carry their baby girls with the same love that I carried with Julian four years ago,” said Maureen. “The doctor said we have three healthy babies and one healthy lady! I’m overjoyed to say that Kevin and Eric will be starting (and finishing) their family in a couple short months.”
“By offering to be our gestational surrogate, she’s helping us fulfill our dream of having a family,” said Eric and Kevin. "The shock hasn’t worn off and the excitement continues to build every day. We can’t wait to welcome our DAUGHTERS to the world!”
Logan /
When Logan was photographed last spring, Ohio was in week three of the Stay at Home order.
Logan is an incredibly talented tattoo artist and owner/operator of Bespoke Tattoo Gallery, located in Cuyahoga Falls.
The timing of the Stay at Home order was rather unlucky, as Logan was in final stages of changing locations, rebranding, and adding new artists. The process to manage all of that isn’t simple during “normal” times, throw in a pandemic and Logan was up against it.
From September of 2019 through June 2020 rent was being paid at his current operating location as well as his new location while he worked through the steps of setting up a new tattoo studio. Logan was working with contractors, the health department and the city in order to obtain occupancy permits, building permits, a health department inspection, and much more. He was just finalizing the complicated logistics of the swift transition between locations when the Stay at Home order went into effect.
Additionally, he had 8 tattoo conventions lined up that were all canceled - and while he had to refund every single deposit he had received from clients planning to attend, only two of the eight conventions refunded his entrance fees.
Logan was home 24-7 and had no idea when he would be able to reopen his studio. He was going through some personal battles in addition to worrying about his business’ state. Having gone through a long term break up, plus having delays on selling the home because of the shut down, moving with little to no help, and being cooped up in his house, Logan decided to get his health back in order. “I started off doing home-based exercising and jogging in the middle of the night around Summit Mall parking lot,” Logan said. I was self conscious and not ready to be working out around anyone, plus gyms weren’t open anyway. I mapped out the distance—5x around the Summit Mall parking lot is just over a mile. That’s where I started.”
“As soon as gyms reopened, I started going responsibly—6 days a week for the rest of the year. I developed healthier eating habits. I hit my goals and remained consistent. I’m down about 85lbs, overall been down 117lbs in total. It did a hell of a lot more for my mental health than I ever imagined.”
Bespoke Tattoo Galleria reopened June 1st and all 6 artists have been consistently busy. Though business has been great, Logan is dealing with price surges of critical supplies they need to function, like gloves. “A case of gloves used to be about eighty dollars, now they’re over double in price,” said Logan. “And that’s if you can even find a supplier who lets you buy a case. Most had a 2 box limit last year (and some still have a limit). I was literally ordering 2 boxes of gloves every day—paying the same for the boxes as I was for the shipping.”
Although Logan is still facing challenges from the pandemic, he perseveres. Bespoke Tattoo Galleria remains steadily booked. Logan continues his regular workout routines and healthy habits he instilled last year. Now fully vaccinated, Logan is looking forward to socializing with his friends again.
Floco & Josy /
Though the pandemic has not been easy for artists, these two have continued to create while working diligently to support and build their community.
Floco Torres, an independent hip-hop musician and one half of Free Black!, has published multiple songs throughout 2020 and 2021. In addition to self publishing all of his recent music, he has put on virtual performances through EarthQuaker, Rubber City Jazz Fest, Porch Rokr and Kent Core, among many others. Though some venues have opened for indoor shows, Floco has no plans to perform live and in-person until it is safer to do so. “There’s not a major reset that will happen when more of the population is vaccinated,” said Floco. “We need to ease into 2021 as we exit the pandemic. People should not be ready to pack into music venues to see a show, I know I’m not ready for that. We still need to be cautious.”
Floco works for The Devil Strip, a community-owned newspaper, where he focuses on listening to the voices of the people and keeping boots on the ground. “I’d rather do my part to keep things moving, rather than just sitting around waiting for someone else to do it.” Floco absorbs what he hears from the community so that he and his team can make the changes that people want to see happen.
Meanwhile, Josy was granted a residency though Akron Soul Train to start work on the “HOME” project. “HOME” hosts interviews and collects feedback on what types of businesses residents would like to see in their neighborhood. The idea with the most votes will be used as the basis for a pop-up business, accompanied by site-specific theatre informed by the resident interviews. A play written by Josy, Across the River, is currently in production at the Balch Street Theatre. All of this is helping to inspire ideation and action for an inclusive, community-driven West Hill neighborhood. And to top it all off, the Women’s History Project of the Greater Akron Area just awarded Josy with Woman of the Year in the category of Creativity.
Together, Josy and Floco have not only withstood the pandemic but thrived, using their considerable creative talents to elevate their community as the world continues to heal.
Emily /
Emily was the first person photographed for this project. Just after our photo shoot, she was cross-trained to work in the Emergency Department in anticipation of an influx of COVID patients.
During the Stay at Home order, elective cases were postponed. The only patients she was seeing were mainly trauma, with the exception of when she would float to various floors to help out when needed. “Everything stayed pretty similar, other than how much additional PPE we were wearing,” said Emily. “We are a little over-the-top in the OR. Since we already know if a patient is COVID-positive before they enter, we put on full gear.” She painted a picture for me: the staff wear knee high boots, full suits with hoods, double gloves, N-95 masks with a disposable mask over top of that, then a face shield over the hood and masks.
Though her job did not change much, Emily’s life outside the hospital was just the opposite. Sadly, Emily’s younger brother Patrick took his own life in the fall.
“He always told me (which I hated) that he found comfort knowing he could always take his own life if he got too low.” Patrick grappled with bi-polar disorder much of his life. Emily being the caregiver that she is, looked out for him the best she could.
Patrick spent a small stint of time in jail last year. He was looking forward to transferring to a work-release program, but he got into a fight and was placed in solitary confinement. While in solitary confinement, there was a chance his work release program would not be an option anymore. He hung himself in his cell one evening.
Emily managed to navigate the services and every challenge that went alongside losing a young sibling who is a father, compounded with a global pandemic, a correctional facility, and many out of town relatives.
“I’ve been good, but I sure miss that booger.” She said she remembers a moment during winter when she stepped outside and took a deep breath of fresh, crisp air. She realized that Patrick had not been outside in months prior to his death. Because of the COVID precautions the facility was taking, their main priority was to keep everyone isolated to lessen the risk of spreading COVID throughout the facility.
Emily is pressing forward, continuing to work full time. She is painting quite a bit, enjoying time with her sweetheart son, and she recently bought a fixer-upper ’88 Ram—a salute to Patrick’s birth year.
She remains positive and is looking forward to being on the other side of this pandemic!
Danielle /
Danielle works for a medical supply company and was photographed as part of the Essential series last spring. During that shoot Danielle said, “I help provide medical equipment to individuals who are in need of things like CPAP machines, wheelchairs, etc. Being considered an “essential worker” has been an interesting experience, because people with disabilities are rarely considered essential.”
Danielle manages her own YouTube channel ‘Daniellability’ to help people see what living with a disability is like. “Although there are many variations of what that looks like, and I can only share one perspective, my hope is to help others see just how human the disabled community is.”
This spring, I circled back to Danielle. She (unsurprisingly) shared insightful thoughts about her perspective on the pandemic.
“Over the last year, I’ve been thinking a lot about what life must have been like for those with disabilities 100 years ago (or even for some people in today’s world who live in less developed countries). They rarely left their homes because of the lack of accessibility, or were maybe even placed in an institution of some kind - separated from the rest of the world. So in a way, I feel like I’m getting a small taste of what that would have been like. I think in some ways it’s been easier for me to adjust to COVID life than my non-disabled friends. Having to miss out or not being able to participate in certain social things isn’t new to me. Over the years I’ve cultivated hobbies that I can do at home that are fulfilling and enjoyable. We’re all in the same boat right now, and soon we’ll be able to go back out into the world. Until that happens, I encourage you to think about your time at home (especially if you aren’t a wheelchair user), and how restricting it feels. For some people, that’s all they’ve ever known because of lack of accessibility.”
Danielle is doing well! She went back to working in the office, rather than from home. She said it feels good to get out of the house regularly again.
The Wilson Family /
The Wilsons had a roller coaster of a year since I last saw them in April of 2020. Just before our shoot, Chrissy’s employer reduced her to part time. Feeling that the decision was unfair, among enduring a toxic work environment, she quit her job and stayed at home with her children. Chrissy said that losing her attachment to her career was a growing experience that led to an awakening which allowed her to figure out what truly makes her and her family happy.
They sold their charming house in Highland Square with plans to move into a unique dome house. The excitement of moving into their dome home was short-lived, however, as the sale did not work out. They had 30 days to find a new home. Their safest quick solution was to move into Crystal mother’s house until they could find another home. After 3 winter months of a lot of quality family time, The Wilsons found their dream home.
Chrissy said they immediately fell in love with this old farm house in Medina, which sits on 10.5 acres. This home was on the market for one day and already had 10 offers. The Wilsons moved quickly. They made an offer and Chrissy wrote a letter to the homeowner. In the letter, she introduced their family and spoke about how much they adored the home and property. She also shared their dream to have an outdoor space for their children to grow up in, to appreciate nature and teach them how to sustain themselves off of the land.
“We would love to be the stewards of this land and continue the legacy of your family. We will love the home and property and make it a treasured part of our family,” said Chrissy. “It has been a trying year for the world and we want to find a nice private space to reconnect to our family and the land.”
The homeowners replied with a beautiful letter sharing some history of the home, cherished memories they’ve had with their family, and an offer to give them a tour of the property.
“We would love to meet you and your children at some point. Maybe we can do a quick walkthrough after we hand over the keys. We have so many stories to share with you.
You are right. This has been a difficult year; but hopefully 2021 will be the first of many years you and your family will be able to enjoy your new little piece of the earth. We are so thankful to be transferring this to you. We hope and pray that you enjoy it as much as our family has. Welcome home.”
The Wilsons finally feel at home and at peace. Crystal has learned that we can take comfort in rejecting societal norms, such as a traditional career, in order to create a more fulfilling life for ourselves and our loved ones.
Bronlynn /
Bronlynn is a downtown Akronite through and through. Her first Stay at Home portrait was captured outside of her apartment building, the former YMCA located downtown. Her second portrait was captured just around the corner, at Lock 4 park, one of her frequented spots where she can be caught reading a book while enjoying a coffee from Akron Coffee Roasters.
For Bronlynn, the pandemic has allowed her to spend time better understanding herself and realize what fuels her. Additionally, she has taken time to discover how to find, and refine, her voice in the world.
“I’m forever a student, especially on the topic of community building,” said Bronlynn. “I have a greater passion for equity and justice for all sectors.” Her passions shine through her work (both on and off the clock). As a program officer at the GAR foundation, Bronlynn works with a wide range of non-profits, her main focuses are: economic and workforce development and education.
“As adults, we can remember the field trips we took and the memorable experiences we had as students,” said Bronlynn. “A lot of historically marginalized students don’t have that opportunity. GAR funded a program called Essential Experiences which enables all APS students between pre-K and 5th (excluding K) to have those opportunities with 6 arts and cultural institutions.” Bronlynn continued to share some of the work she has passionately been a part of with the GAR Foundation during the pandemic. “I helped develop the program “Know COVID” to better connect our hospitals with our neighborhoods.” The GAR Foundation teamed up with seven neighborhood organizations: Akron Urban League, LINKS Community Services, North Akron CDC, Project Ujima, South Street Ministries, Love Akron and ArtsNow. "We know that our investment will not solve the long-standing systemic inequities, but we believe that this is a small step in the right direction to combat misinformation and build trust between the health systems and the community they serve," said Bronlynn.
Her intentional work didn’t stop at the office, she has taken time to expand equity work in other areas of her life as well. “I live my life by these three pillars: Never stop creating. Never stop learning. Continue to help others,“ said Bronlynn. “I started a book club that focuses on historically marginalized authors. We meet every month. Also, my friend and I just started a hiking group for Black women. We wanted to create this group because Black and Brown communities are often excluded from outdoor groups.”
Bronlynn continues to live her life by her three pillars while balancing self care. “Mental health and support for mental health is important to me,” Said Bronlynn. “Life is hard, this world is tough. Being able to navigate it in a healthy way is crucial.”
Bo & Sarah /
When the pandemic hit NYC and the city locked down, Ohio natives Bo and Sarah were living and working in Brooklyn. They began volunteering each Saturday at a nearby nonprofit called Mixteca to deliver boxes of groceries to around 100 immigrant New Yorkers who were experiencing food insecurity.
After three months of walking past the morgue freezer truck that was parked outside the hospital in their neighborhood, the pair decided to return to their Ohio roots to stay near family and wait out the worst of the pandemic.
While in Akron, Sarah learned she had been awarded a Fulbright to go to Central America for five months to research the post-deportation lives of individuals who applied for asylum in the United States but had been denied. They left Akron two mornings after Christmas and arrived to a 95-degree afternoon in El Salvador.
“Living all our lives in Akron and NYC, we’ve never skipped a winter. In El Salvador we were living in this little surf town on the coast with a mango tree in our backyard and more sunshine than we could even handle.” Sarah’s new book about her research will be published by Columbia University Press in 2022.
Bo and Sarah flew home to Ohio in May because they wanted to be vaccinated before going back to NYC. “We got our first shot the day after we arrived. It was such a relief after so much uncertainty,” Sarah said.
In June, they finally headed back to Brooklyn after more than a year away. Mixteca’s weekly food distribution program is still in full swing, and the number of families signed up has more than tripled. “It feels like this huge realization of the weight of the pandemic and its longstanding impact,” Sarah said. “Things feel different here. New Yorkers are resilient, but it’s clear that people are exhausted, and some have had to move away. Several friends lost their jobs and could no longer afford to live here and others left the city because they needed more space for their kids to run around during the pandemic. We need to rebuild some of our community, but we’re so happy to be home.”
Rachel, Declan, Mary, Sean & Murphy /
Rachel and her family were photographed last April. Her stepdad, Dan Spak, passed away unexpectedly on the eve of Easter. Rachel asked if they could participate in the Stay at Home series, wanting to have something positive to remember of the pandemic. That was the first time I realized that these images left a positive impact on people other than myself and those in the photographs. We had a little photo session on a warm April evening. Declan (Rachel and Sean’s son) hung by his big wheel and we all got to know each other, and they shared Dan’s legacy with me.
Dan Spak was an adored teacher at Firestone and was married to Rachel’s mother, Mary, for 16 years—the pair worked at Firestone together. Though he tested negative for COVID, they never got clear answers on the cause of his death. With results arriving days later, his organs were not able to be donated. “I think about all of the people who were awaiting organ transplants during that time but did not have an opportunity because of testing availability,” Said Rachel.
The family could not conduct a memorial service, but that didn’t stop people from reaching out. Family, friends, colleagues, students and neighbors did a drive-by parade, left plenty of kind messages and there was news coverage of the unexpected loss of this beloved teacher.
The family pressed on, continuing to live through the extended Stay at Home order while trying to grieve without closure.
Declan, a big-wheeling social butterfly, was enrolled in Kindergarten at Akron Public Schools. With school remaining virtual, Rachel decided it would be in their best interest to homeschool him. Declan did well with homeschooling, but Rachel comedically mentioned his biggest disappointment was that he didn’t get to have a school picture taken. It was clear that their Pandemic Postscript warranted an official school photo for Declan’s archives of Kindergarten.
In January, the family introduced a new family member: a rambunctious pup named Murphy.
This spring, APS is back full-swing; Mary returned to Firestone for the first time since last March. The same building she left with her husband, she re-entered alone. Mary entered a stage of re-grieving, triggered by the fond memories she holds in that building with Dan. When we spoke, Mary stated that she was not ready to return to school with the students and staff. Mary retired this year, the school held two retirement celebrations for her as well as paid tribute to Dan Spak.
The school year is coming to an end, Mary will be retired and Declan gets that school photo he always wanted. The family is looking forward to their vaccinated-lifestyle, finally having the ability to enjoy the company of their friends and family. Rambunctious Murphy is the perfect fit for Declan—those two fellas will be running around all summer.
May this warm weather combined with COVID vaccines and the final days of the school year give this family the step forward they’ve been waiting for during the pandemic.
