Interview with Hartford Communities That Care Members

(a) Interview with eight members of Hartford Communities That Care: Winston Kennedy, Sherelle Reid, Tyrone Bynum, Larry Johnson, Jennika Lebron, Johanna Schubert, Shenelle Benjamin, and Ari Cruz. Interviewed by Samariya Smith on April 12, 2022 at Hartford Communities That Care Office, 2550 Main Street, Hartford. (b) Photograph of the group taken at the interview. They were interviewed as part of the Connecticut Historical Society's Community History Project discussing their experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The eight interviewees are staff members of Hartford Communities That Care (HCTC), a crisis-response organization in Hartford that primarily responds to gun violence. Samariya Smith, CHP Manager and part time employee of HCTC, lead the interview and Peter Moran, CHP Asssistant, attended and took notes. Participants sat around a rectangular table with the recorder at its center. Samariya sat at head of table, next to (clockwise) Peter, Winston, Sherelle, Tyrone, Larry, Jennifer, Johanna, Shenelle, and Ari. The participants knew each other and spoke familiarly. The conversation touched on HCTC's work during COVID, exposures, personal protection equipment, community service, family relationships, self-care, vaccines, food and diet, and deaths due to COVID. A variety of perspectives were offered on vaccines and the risks associated with them. Conversation repeatedly touched on internet habits during COVID. The tension between respecting personal choice and respecting other people recurred, but was not directly identified. The conversation concluded with an emphasis on the power of physical contact, love, and compassion to overcome challenges and traumas such as COVID-19.