Have you been able to stay involved in your community despite COVID times? I, for one, am still relying on a lot of virtual events — online fundraisers, virtual talks, digital trade shows and regular Zoom calls with my friends and family — to stay on the beat. One thing that’s different now, though, is my ability to connect with communities and groups outside my neighborhood.
For instance, the other day I attended a free virtual talk with Ibram X. Kendi over Zoom. The event was put on by Prince George’s County Memorial Library System in Maryland. It was neat to participate in an event that, before, would not have been accessible to me all the way in North Carolina had the event happened in person.
While it feels like people are getting more comfortable gathering again (though we hope with their masks), we expect digital connection — like virtual worship — is here to stay. This has had one clear benefit: Families that are no longer local or in close proximity to their nearest house of worship (or may not want to gather publicly for a while), have increased accessibility and can remain connected. Do you find your local communities embracing these changes?
Enjoy the issue below. As always, we invite you to let us know your thoughts.