COVID-19 Heroes

It's a wrap for season 1 of COVID-19 Heroes, but the pandemic is far from over. We can all continue to play our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19. If the many Emergency Management guests on the show sparked your interest in our field, I hope you'll consider jumping in it yourself, and if you are a practitioner looking to strengthen and popularize our field, I invite you to check out the Emergency Management Growth Initiative at https://www.emginitiative.org and get involved.  Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N The Web - https://bit.ly/3bTAlSC --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

What happens once someone passes away during the COVID-19 pandemic? To date, close to half a million people have died from the novel coronavirus. In the span of three months, New York City experienced over 35,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 and other unrelated causes, forcing the megacity to undertake the largest domestic fatality management operation in recent history. Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Management for the Virginia Department of Transportation, John Scrivani, shares his experience returning to his hometown to help coordinate the city's transfer and recovery of decedents.  Guest Bio John Scrivani has been working in the Emergency Response / Management community for over 27 years. John has served as the Deputy State Coordinator for Disaster Services at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, as the Incident Commander of the New York City Hurricane Sandy Debris Task Force where he was charged with overseeing the removal of all storm related debris in New York City and as New York City Office of Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner of Operations. Scrivani also serves Deputy Director of the Special Operations Division at the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), where he also oversaw operations and safety for the World Trade Center Potential Human Remains Recovery Project and managed the ME Special Operations Response Team.  For 14 years, John worked as a member of the NYPD, where he retired as Commanding Officer of the Emergency Services Unit Hazardous Materials-Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Team and Training School. He was also a member of the NYPD elite Emergency Service Unit. John currently serves as the Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Management for the Virginia Department of Transportation. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N The Web - https://bit.ly/3bTAlSC --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

For weeks, the entire world caught its breath and set its eyes on New York City, the new epicenter of COVID-19 after Wuhan, China and Lombardy, Italy. To date, the metropolis has experienced over 200K confirmed cases and 20,000 related deaths. A city with a long history of trauma and resilience following 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, we wonder: How has the pandemic redefined the notion of a catastrophic event? Kelly McKinney, a long-time Emergency Management leader and the current Senior Director of Emergency Management and Enterprise Resilience at NYU Langone Health, provides a detailed answer. Guest Bio Kelly McKinney has had a leadership role in every major disaster in New York City for more than fifteen years, from the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to the present day. As Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Office of Emergency Management, he led the city’s response to Hurricane Sandy. As Chief Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross he rushed to the aid of people affected by train crashes and building collapses, most notably the March 2014 Con Edison gas explosion on 125th Street in Harlem. He is the founding principal of Emergency Management Americas, a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to advance the profession and practice of emergency management. Nationally known for his writing and speaking on the principles and practice of disaster management, he is the author of Moment of Truth: The Nature of Catastrophes and How to Prepare for Them. He is a professional engineer with a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Kansas and an MPA from Columbia University in the City of New York. He is a board member of the All-Hazards Consortium and of the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management in New York City. Currently, he is the Senior Director of Emergency Management and Enterprise Resilience at NYU Langone Health, a world-class academic medical center based in New York City. Twitter - @kellymnyc Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N The Web - https://bit.ly/3bTAlSC --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

"Black and Brown women are one of the most vulnerable populations during disaster and they're being disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus as a result of their race, class, and gender." PhD Student & Bill Anderson Fund Fellow, Felicia Henry, talks about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations, its link to other societal issues, including systems of stratification, and describes a path forward. Support the B(L)K/WMN "I Got You, Sis" Fund: The Web - http://www.feliciahenry.com/blkwmnfund Cash App - https://cash.app/$blkwmnbk Instagram - @blkwmn.bk Guest Bio Felicia A. Henry is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware. Her research interests include race, ethnicity, gender, criminal justice/mass incarceration, social vulnerability and resilience in disasters, and communities. A Licensed Social Worker (LMSW), Felicia received her Master of Social Work degree from the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Felicia is a Bill Anderson Fund Fellow and Recipient of the Unidel Award in Sociology & Criminal Justice and the University Unidel Distinguished Graduate Scholar Award. Previously, Felicia was a Program Manager for Diversion and Reintegration at the New York City Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, where she oversaw the implementation of an array of diversion, re-entry, and gender-specific programming that served individuals leaving New York City's jails. Felicia is the founder of Behind the Walls, Between the Lines (BTWBTL) and B(L)K/WMN. Behind the Walls, Between the Lines (BTWBTL) is a movement to deepen the awareness of the legacy of racial inequity in America, particularly within the criminal justice system, and inspire activism aimed at its dismantlement. B(L)K/WMN will be a brick + mortar space dedicated to and for Black and Brown Women in Brooklyn, NY. This space will support women in the pursuit of their dreams through classes, workshops, and events, provide a space to increase skills and strategies for health and wellness through therapy, counseling, and other techniques, and allow women to be free in their identities as Black Women, surrounding them with a network and tribe. B(L)K/WMN will cultivate the reality that Black women are visible, that they show up and dream the impossible and defy the improbable every single day. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N The Web - https://bit.ly/3bTAlSC -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

"What started as an equal-opportunity disease has quickly become racialized." Laura Abrams, Chair and Director of Social Welfare at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs gives an account of how COVID-19 has reinforced pre-existing racial and ethnic health disparities, with African Americans carrying a higher burden of illness and impact. Dr. Abrams also speaks to the effects of the pandemic on incarcerated youths and adults and shares how the Social Work profession is helping communities far and wide.  Guest Bio Professor Abrams’ scholarship focuses on improving the well being of youth and young adults with histories of incarceration. Her ethnographic studies have examined youths’ experiences of criminality, risk, and institutions seeking to reshape their identities through both therapeutic and punitive practices. She has published over 75 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and is the author of two edited volumes: The Voluntary Sector in Prisons (Palgrave, 2016); and The International Handbook of Youth Imprisonment (Routledge, forthcoming). In the community, Dr. Abrams has served as an expert witness for death row appeals and in cases involving minors fighting their fitness to be tried as adults. She has provided public and congressional testimony regarding treatment in the juvenile justice system, the reentry needs of youth, and effective practices for the reintegration of reentry youth into the community. Dr. Abrams’ work and opinions have been cited in a range of news media including the New York Times and NPR, among others. She has received numerous awards for her scholarship, including the SSWR best scholarly book award (2020) and the Frank R. Bruel prize for the best published article in Social Service Review (2013). Follow Dr. Abrams on Twitter - https://twitter.com/labramsucla.  Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N The Web - https://bit.ly/3bTAlSC -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

As first responders, firefighters have a long history of facing challenging situations and managing stress. Retired LA City Firefighter, Glenn Miyagishima, provides an overview of his research on stress in the Fire Service and shares tips on how employers and employees can cope with stress. Together, we discuss Fire Departments' evolving role in the pandemic and how they are adapting to the current events. Guest Bio Glenn Miyagishima is a retired Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief who served the City of Los Angeles for over 33 years. During his professional career as a firefighter he held the rank of Apparatus Operator for nearly 10 years, until he promoted to Fire Captain I and II.  As an officer for 18 years he spent his last 9 years as a Battalion Chief assigned to: West Los Angeles, Homeland Security Counter-Intelligence, Community Liaison Officer, Metro Fire Dispatch Center, the West San Fernando Valley and retired from Battalion 5 in Hollywood in 2018. Glenn received his Doctor of Education Ed.D., from the University of Southern California (USC) at the Rossier School of Education, and a M.A. from Woodbury University. Glenn continues his lifelong passion to teach and advocate the principles of leadership, learning and performance. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N The Web - https://bit.ly/3bTAlSC -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

The world of sports has come to a complete standstill all over the world. 2016 Olympic champion, Madison Kocian, describes what it was like seeing the coronavirus pandemic prematurely end her gymnastics career. Together, we talk about the International Olympic Committee's decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the important role athletes play as role models. Guest Bio Madison Kocian is an American gymnast who is an Olympic, World, and NCAA champion. On the uneven bars, she is a 2015 World Champion and the 2016 Olympic silver medalist. After winning Olympic gold as part of the "Final Five" at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, she enrolled at UCLA and was member of the NCAA women's gymnastics team that took home the National Championship in 2018. In 2020, she was named the Pac-12 Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

How does COVID-19 affect the different generations and our bias toward age and disability? Fernando Torres-Gil, Director of the UCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging, introduces us to the generational shifts brought on by the pandemic and how certain advocacy and legal groups are ensuring that our response to the outbreak remains equitable. Guest Bio Fernando M. Torres-Gil’s multifaceted career spans the academic, professional, and policy arenas.  He is a Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy at UCLA, an Adjunct Professor of Gerontology at USC, and Director of the UCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging.  He has served as Associate Dean and Acting Dean at the UCLA School of Public Affairs, and most recently Chair of the Social Welfare Department.  He has written six books and over 100 publications, including The New Aging: Politics and Change in America (1992) and Lessons from Three Nations, Volumes I and II (2007).  His academic contributions have earned him membership in the prestigious Academies of Public Administration, Gerontology and Social Insurance.  His research spans important topics of health and long-term care, disability, entitlement reform, and the politics of aging. Professor Torres-Gil is more than an academic.  He has an impressive portfolio of public service and national and international recognition as a leading spokesperson on demographics, aging, and public policy.  He earned his first presidential appointment in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the Federal Council on Aging.  He was selected as a White House Fellow and served under Joseph Califano, then Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), and continued as a Special Assistant to the subsequent Secretary of HEW, Patricia Harris.  He was appointed (with Senate Confirmation) by President Bill Clinton as the first-ever U.S. Assistant Secretary on Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). As the Clinton Administration’s chief advocate on aging, Torres-Gil played a key role in promoting the importance of the issues of aging, long-term care and disability, community services for the elderly, and baby boomer preparation for retirement.  He served under HHS Secretary Donna Shalala, managing the Administration on Aging and organizing the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, in addition to serving as a member of the President’s Welfare Reform Working Group. In 2010 he received his third presidential appointment (with Senate Confirmation) when President Barack Obama appointed him as Vice Chair of the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency that reports to the Congress and White House on federal matters related to disability policy.  During his public service in Washington, D.C., he also served as Staff Director of the U.S. House Select Committee on Aging under his mentor, Congressman Edward R. Roybal. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

How are local communities in Haiti supporting each other during COVID? Jodi Spangler, Founder of Say:Do, a nonprofit that operates a Haitian led and run mobile clinic and provides training to healthcare workers, takes us to Cité Soleil right outside of Port-au-Prince and recounts how the healthcare infrastructure is faring amid the pandemic, 10 years after the last devastating disaster shook up the country. Support & learn more about Say:Do at https://www.saydo.org. Instagram: @say_to_do Guest Bio Jodi Spangler is a third year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Jodi’s background is in international disaster response. She was a medical responder after the earthquakes in both Haiti and Nepal. She is the founder of Say:Do, a nonprofit running mobile clinics and training healthcare workers in Cite Soleil, Haiti and also runs a skydive program for patients with tough diagnoses. She practices wilderness medicine and is on the Pacific Northwest Wilderness Medicine leadership team. When not in school, you can find her in her camping in her Westfalia, surfing, hiking, skydiving, or playing with her son and dog. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N The Web - https://bit.ly/3bTAlSC -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

Maggie Doyne believes that in the blink of an eye, we can all make a difference. The Co-Founder and CEO of the BlinkNow Foundation based in Surkhet, Nepal, Maggie draws a picture of how the coronavirus pandemic has turned life upside down for Nepali day laborers, migrant workers and children. Joining us from inside the Kopila Valley Children's Home, she shares intimate stories of how the resilient children and women are adjusting to the new pace of life set by the stay-at-home order. Guest Bio Maggie Doyne created the BlinkNow Foundation, with her Co-founder Tope Malla, to sustain, grow, and support Kopila Valley Children’s Home and School in Nepal, and to serve as a vehicle to share her ideas with young people, especially children in the U.S. Maggie believes that in the blink of an eye, we can all make a difference. At age 19, Maggie used her life savings to build a home for orphaned children in war-ravaged Nepal. Today, she is mom to over 50 children. In 2010, she opened a school for the region’s most impoverished children. The school now serves 400 students and is rated top in the region. Maggie was named 2015 CNN Hero of the Year. She was honored by the Dalai Lama as an Unsung Hero of Compassion in 2014. Her work was championed by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicholas Kristof in a cover story for The New York Times Magazine. In 2012, Maggie shared her story at the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy, and in 2013 she received the Forbes Award for Excellence in Education. Maggie lives at the home with her children in Nepal, and also spends time managing BlinkNow and holding speaking engagements worldwide to inspire young people and develop strategic partnerships. Learn more & support BlinkNow at: https://blinknow.org. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Facebook - https://bit.ly/3dSnhhw Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

What does a global humanitarian response to COVID-19 look like? Dr. Solomon Kuah and Trevor Rhodes from the International Medical Corps shed light on the agency's response to the novel coronavirus both domestically and abroad. From preparedness to response and recovery, they disclose what it takes to lead an effective response leveraging local healthcare capabilities, training, and a humanitarian spirit. Support & find out more about the International Medical Corps at https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/. Guest Bios Solomon Kuah MD, MPH, is specialty trained in clinical emergency medicine and sub-specialty trained in international emergencies and public health from Columbia University, NYC. He has worked in the field for over 10 years, responding to high-level humanitarian emergencies such as conflict, outbreaks and natural disasters, including Ebola in 2014, where he spent over 3 months running several Ebola isolation units throughout Sierra Leone at the peak of the epic-curve. Trevor Rhodes currently serves as the North America Programs Manager for International Medical Corps, where his primary focus is the development of emergency response capabilities within the United States and its territories. Trevor is a member of the organization’s Emergency Response Unit. Prior to joining International Medical Corps, he worked for the Los Angeles County Public Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Division where he developed catastrophic response plans for chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological threats to county’s population of 13 million. Prior to his service with the county he was the Disaster Program Manager for Los Angeles County’s Community Clinic Association for three years, developing the systematic emergency response capabilities of the primary care medical sector. Additionally, Trevor has worked for the American Red Cross, the City of LA’s Emergency Management Department, and the city of Santa Cruz. He holds a Master’s degree in Emergency Management. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

COVID-19 is testing all of our limits as we encounter loss, economic instability, and an uncertain future. Brian Stefan, a social worker and suicide prevention counselor, describes what it's been like working on the front lines of the mental health response to COVID and shares practical tips on what to say when somebody confides in us. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone and crisis chat available 24/7 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat Go to www.erasingthestigma.org and: Watch a video of this year’s Erasing the Stigma Awards presentation Join the STIGMA hand-washing campaign #ErasingTheStigma/#StoppingTheSpread Make a gift to support their lifesaving services Visit Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: https://didihirsch.org.  Guest Info Brian Stefan is a proud social worker in Los Angeles and suicide prevention counselor, trainer, and consultant. He currently works at Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center as a shift supervisor and Suicide Response Team (SRT) member. He serves in the Los Angeles Mayor's Office Crisis Response Team (CRT) as a responder, on-call manager, and follow-up counselor for families bereaved by suicide. Brian previously led adult grief support groups for Our House Grief Support Center. He earned his Master of Social Work (MSW) from UCLA, as well as graduate degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the National Intelligence University. He was a former intelligence officer with the US Department of Defense and an intelligence analyst with the FBI-LAPD Joint Regional Intelligence Center-Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Center in Los Angeles. He currently serves as a Defense Council member at the Truman National Security Project focusing on suicide awareness and prevention for first responders and public safety officers. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

The U.S. April unemployment rate reached 14.7 percent, by far the worst since the Great Depression, with over 30 million Americans now having filed jobless claims since COVID-19 began to shut down the economy. In such economically uncertain times, what can one do to continue professionally evolving? Networking strategy coach, Stephanie Thoma, shares tips and tricks on how to leverage this time to professionally grow by pursuing passion projects and purposefully engaging with other professionals while physically distancing.  Connect with Stephanie Thoma & sign-up for her Networking during COVID webinar via: The web: https://www.stephaniethoma.com/events LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemthoma/  Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N  -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

Hospitals across the U.S. continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 response. In the face of challenging times, Monique Hernandez, a charge nurse from Riverside, CA, has found the power within her voice to speak up and advocate for better working conditions and better healthcare - at present and in the future. Follow COVID-19 Heroes on: Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

What does the state and county-level response to COVID-19 look like? California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Emergency Services Coordinator, Jenny Novak, takes us behind the scenes of coordinating statewide resources and information during the pandemic. A cancer survivor, she also shares how the resilience she's built from years of battling an illness is now helping her emotionally weather this storm. Check out Jenny's work and talents at http://jennynovak.com/. Featured article: Emergency Managers: Who are they and how are they helping with COVID-19? http://jennynovak.com/2020/04/who-are-em/. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

Small business owners are currently experiencing the biggest battle of their life: keeping their business afloat. Jay Chris Moore and Sarah Ro, co-founders of MOB HQ Dance Studio, explain what it's like navigating the economic impact and uncertain future of being shut down, and share how they still strive to make a difference in dancers' lives all over the world. Find MOB HQ on: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themobhq/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/themobhq Online - https://www.themobhq.com/  Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Instagram - https://bit.ly/2WaFW0O Twitter - https://bit.ly/3aOspRW Youtube - https://bit.ly/2zxok7N -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

In times of physical distancing, The Bay Church, is finding a multitude of ways to socially engage with its members and the community. Carey Gregg, Director of Compassion Outreach, shares with us how volunteers are banding together to provide life-saving services to students, first responders, and the homeless. Visit The Bay Church at https://thebay.church/. Find COVID-19 Heroes on: Instagram Twitter Youtube  -- This episode is sponsored by GoGyft - the gyft that keeps on giving. To create your GoGyft, visit https://www.gogyft.com/covid. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

Getting people home is no easy task during a global pandemic. So far, Lufthansa Group airlines have repatriated around 90,000 travelers with over 430 special flights which departed from 106 airports worldwide, from New Zealand all the way to Chile, to return citizens and residents back to Europe. German Lufthansa flight attendant, Jassin Kraft, describes a repatriation flight he led and what the journey throughout the pandemic has been like for him and his peers in the hard-hit aviation industry. This episode was recorded on April 15, 2020. Read a press release from Lufthansa from April 17, 2020 here. Follow the show on Twitter & Instagram. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

The Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland, CA in March after some passengers on board tested positive for COVID-19. San Diego-based EMT, Samantha Saunders, deployed to the port to help transport passengers from the ship to hospitals and sites across the region. A unique work experience, she shares what being an EMT during this pandemic is like. Follow the show on Twitter & Instagram. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support

Hundreds of thousands of children and teenagers live in foster care in the U.S. Now, many of them are suffering from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in their own ways. Danny Mendoza, founder of Together We Rise, describes what challenges the pandemic is bringing to an already vulnerable system and shares how we can all help to support foster youth. Follow the show on Twitter & Instagram. Learn more about foster care & support Together We Rise during COVID. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/covid19heroes/support