Seattle University alumni and faculty are stepping up to the COVID-19 challenges in their communities. Here are just a few examples of how Arts and Sciences alumni and faculty are making a difference.
Osbaldo Hernandez, BA, Public Affairs ‘12,, and his family own Frelard Tamales, and they are packing free sack lunches for children who are out of school. Read the Seattle Times article.
Meaghen Leferink, MFA '18 is the Executive Director of Seattle Girls Choir, who shared the song “No Time,” which they originally planned to perform at their Cabaret fundraiser in March that was cancelled. Watch the performance.
Brandon Morrison, BA, Theology and Religious Studies, ‘14, is a fitness coach who has turned to baking as the coronavirus has created big professional changes. “I’ve been the bread winner, ironically, for the last two years while my wife has been in nursing school. We depended on that coaching income to make ends meet. It’s really hard to know what life will be like after this but I’d love to be the bread man in this town." Read the interview with him.
ChrisTiana ObeySumner, BA, Psychology with Honors, '13 and MNPL, '16, and a Seattle-based social equity and intersectional disability justice consultant, in The Seattle Times: “Where was this urgency and empathy before? [This experience has shown that] if something is important for [non-disabled people], for their survival, for their protection, they will put that in place.” ChrisTiana is also a Seattle U MPA candidate, set to graduate this year. Read the article.
Dr. Kira Mauseth, Psychology, in The Seattle Times: “People are understandably focused on too much of the big picture. What we are really trying to emphasize is concentric circles of care. Focus on yourself and family, then neighbors, then community. Reach out only in those circles, because that’s what you have the energy and bandwidth for. It allows you to focus on what you can control. Anxiety is the lack of control.” Read the article.
Dr. Aakanksha Sinha, Social Work, is also the co-owner of Spice Waala, on Capitol Hill. Beginning March 30, they began providing 50 free hot meals on Monday and Tuesday, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Heidi Neff, MNPL, is a youth tutoring program manager for Catholic Community Services of Western Washington and participated in this meal delivery effort.