
Fordham U launches COVID-19 project
Students at Bronx school share their experiences during global pandemic
Students participating in the project are (l-r) Nyasa Hendrix, Peter Simpson, Alison Rini, Bethany Fernandez, Veronica Quiroga, Carlos Rico. Courtesy of Fordham University
BY JASON COHEN
Students at Fordham
University are seeking to
tell their stories of living
through a global pandemic,
as the Bronx, especially impoverished
communities
of color, was ravaged by
COVID-19.
In April, Fordham University’s
Bronx African
American History Project
launched The Bronx
COVID-19 Oral History Project,
which captures audio
and visual stories of Bronx
residents sharing how their
families, communities and
workplaces have been affected
by the pandemic.
A group of students and
recent graduates came up
with the idea and so far
have interviewed 18 people
on Zoom. The project is
slowly garnering attention,
said Mark Naison, a history
and African and African
American studies professor
at Fordham University, who
is overseeing the initiative.
“What we’re doing is very
helpful for the Bronx,” Naison
said. “The Bronx has
been hit harder than any
other borough in New York
but its people have been incredibly
resilient.”
Funding from the community
made this project
possible. Fordham launched
a campaign with fundraising
NICK’S DRUG STORE
BRONX TIMES R 8 EPORTER, AUGUST 7-13, 2020 BTR
platform GiveCampus
to provide stipends to student
and alumni researchers
working to amplify the
voices of Bronx residents.
Fordham is also using the
GiveCampus platform for
several COVID-19 campaigns
for their students
and communities, which
have already raised hundreds
of thousands of dollars
in direct relief for those
struggling during the pandemic.
The students participating
in the initiative are
Bethany Fernandez, Carlos
Rico, Nyasa Hendrix, Peter
Simpson, Alison Rini and
Veronica Quiroga. Quiroga,
a Bronx resident who came
up with the idea for the project,
said this initiative has
been emotional but also
worth it.
They have interviewed
essential workers, restaurant
owners and Derek
Lewis, who launched the
Bronx Community Relief Effort.
Some people have been
brought to tears during the
process.
“In terms of community
outreach, we wanted to
make sure we included a little
bit of everyone’s perspective,”
Quiroga explained.
“We want to make sure that
beyond just telling their stories,
it is providing a platform
for these individuals.”
Naison, who has done
hundreds of interviews for
the Bronx African History
Project, was blown away
with the students’ ambition.
“When you treat people
with respect and let their
voices be heard, people
want to tell their stories,”
he noted. “I’ve listened to
the interviews and at times,
tears come to my eyes. I’m
very proud of the students
for giving people an opportunity
to express themselves.”
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