Quaranteens Resist: Resources

Hello Teen Resisters,

Thanks for sticking with us in this strange time-- we know it took us a little while. Our team is made up of teens and just like all of you, we've had a lot of adjusting to do with online school, etc. But now we're back. We figured that you're probably getting enough news all the time, and because things are so fast-paced, so we are leaning into the "list" structure and providing you with some resources. 

You'll see that this list is sectioned into a few different mini-lists: resources for information, donations, financial support, political resources, etc. We will continue with our regular list coverage throughout the pandemic on a biweekly schedule. We will also probably be doing some workshops on Instagram Live (@teensresist) since we can't do in-person workshops.

Also- take the census, please! Tell your loved ones as well.

We are sending you all our love and support in this weird, confusing, disturbing period of time. Stay inside, stay distanced, and stay safe. 

Peace, power, and health,
​TR

Sparkly hand-washing, by Sara Shakeel

​RESOURCE MASTER LIST

HOW TO STAY UPDATED (IN A MANAGEABLE WAY)
If there’s an abundance of anything right now in relation to COVID-19, it’s advice and information from all corners of the Internet. It’s really easy to get overwhelmed and end up feeling helpless — like just allowing yourself to stay in the dark about what’s going on is easier than trying to balance everything that’s happening. We’ve compiled a list of a few targeted sources that provide reliable, comprehensive, and often bite-sized information; hopefully, they will help you stay updated (if that’s what you want to do!).

News Updates

• New York Times is a good starting place for Coronavirus news reporting.
  • They’re offering live updates, as well as maps and an FAQ on the stimulus bill.
• The Washington Post is also offering free access to their Coronavirus content.

Health Guidance

• This video is a great one from Dr. David Price from Cornell-Weill Hospital. It's helpful, comprehensive, and easy to understand.
• The CDC is the top place for health guidance with resources on how to stay safe and what to do if you’re feeling sick.
• Here is a Coronavirus screening questionnaire if you or someone you know believes they are developing symptoms.
• An interesting article about how testing for the virus works.
• A comprehensive list about what you can do to stay safe and not spread the disease.
  • There’s a especially helpful section about the differences between social distancing, shelter in place, self-quarantine, as well as a bunch of other terms that are being thrown about now.

Infographics

• The New York Times has a set of maps and infographics about cases world wide.
• Here is a quick link to statistics about cases in the US and in your state.

Elections

• Vote.org is keeping a great distilled page updating voters on how COVID-19 is affecting elections.

Where not to get information

• Social media posts and videos not from trusted sources and without cited sources
• Articles and videos claiming to have a new way to protect yourself that the CDC has not endorsed.
• Conspiracy theorists (though this should go without saying)

An empty Times Square during the NYC shelter-in

PLACES TO DONATE TO 
We’ve listed, linked, and identified the focus of some aid programs below. Keep in mind that we’re also only scraping the surface — there are too many organizations doing phenomenal work to count. We also recognize that donating is not realistic for everyone! Do what you can and only that. 

National: 

• Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund, created by the United Nations Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation to support the work of the World Health Organization
  • Focus: research on virus, care for frontline workers and patients
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s foundation and emergency response fund
  • Focus: giving to local health depts, global response efforts, protective gear
• Partners in Health
  • Focus: long-term care to patients in developing countries — test 200k+ patients, help international gov’t coordination and local health workers
• Direct Relief
  • Focus: supply deliveries to US, China, Caribbean, South America, specifically to help protect medical professionals
• Feeding America 
  • Focus: help local food banks respond to outbreak
• No Kid Hungry
  • Focus: emergency grants to food banks, networking with affected families
• Meals on Wheels (info about local programs, where to donate nationally)
  • Focus: aid to older and homebound Americans
• National Council on Aging
  • Focus: provide COVID-19 resources for senior centers
• Covenant House (donate to relief fund)
  • Focus: provides young homeless people with meals and homes to mitigate impacts of COVID-19 

Local, more generally: 

• United Way Worldwide (find your local chapter’s fund)
  • Focus: mobilizing the caring power of individual communities 
• Call shelters in your area to find out how best to support them
• Google your city/area’s name and “COVID-19 volunteering” or “COVID-19 donation” to find localized efforts
• Give directly to your favorite local businesses/purchase gift cards for meals for once doors open.

NYC in particular (just a few — there are so many!): 

• Citymeals
  • Focus: food — donations specifically to help older people
• Women In Need
  • Focus: largest provider of family shelter and supportive housing in NYC; working to maintain children’s health, safety, and education during COVID-19
• God’s Love We Deliver
  • Focus: looking for volunteers and donations to sponsor emergency meal bags

For more detailed info, go here (NYT) and here (Charity Navigator).

PLACES TO GO FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
This document, compiled by Sonia Chajet Wides & Anya Shvarts for community members in Brooklyn, NY, is an excellent database to check out if you or someone you know (from a veteran to an older relative to a small business owner to a restaurant worker) needs financial assistance. For 22 organizations/programs, it provides the name, who is eligible, a link to information, and any additional caveats. 

Adding one more to that list, Financial Assistance For Single Mothers helps financially struggling single mothers with finding grants and government assistance programs, free of cost.

Legislative Explainer & Action

In addition to the massive impacts coronavirus is having on public health across the country, the epidemic is also inflicting severe blows on the American economy. Across the country, jobs have been deemed non-essential and people have been encouraged to stay home in the interest of containing spread; 3.3 million workers filed for unemployment benefits last week, with economists deeming the economy’s current recession one of the most severe in American history. Low-income families and individuals are especially susceptible to both the virus and this economic nose-dive, and are especially in need of economic aid.
​
On Friday, March 27th, in the interest of providing some of this economic relief, Congress passed (and Trump signed into law) the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT), a 2 trillion dollar federal measure aimed at providing relief to American individuals, families, and businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill came after acute partisan in-fighting over whether the bill should be written in support of businesses or workers, with Democrats blocking a pro-business bill with little federal oversight from passing on Thursday. The CARES ACT is 880 pages long. Teens Resist is here with a brief breakdown of everything important about the bill, and everything you can do to make it better.

The CARES ACT, explained:

• Ensures that all coronavirus testing is covered by private insurance plans
• Provides free vaccine coverage (within 15 days) when a vaccine becomes available
• Provides almost 1 trillion dollars for federally backed loans to businesses (small and large) for utilities, rent, mortgage, and payroll use
• Provides unemployment insurance to people who are out of jobs due to the pandemic (including $600 per week to each qualified recipient)
• Taxpayers with an annual income below $75,000 will receive $1200 (plus $500 per child) from the IRS, with a weighted reduction moving up to $99,000; this will reach millions of Americans across the country

How can I improve the CARES ACT?

• While federal unemployment insurance and loans are helpful, $600 a week is not enough to cover all of the many finances families and individuals have to account for every week. Especially in urban areas, rent is at the top of this list. Many municipalities have suspended evictions, but have yet to suspend rent payments and mortgages. If they haven’t already, write to and call your local representatives to demand that they work to suspend rent payments and mortgages through the end of April.
  • If you live in New York, sign this petition to Governor Cuomo, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and the NYS Congressional Delegation demanding rent suspension: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/reclaim-our-homes-rent-suspension-now

Separately, Congress also recently passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights (FFCRA), which extends Title II of the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide that certain employers provide workers who are unable to work due to a quarantine order, a health care provider order, having coronavirus, or caring for a relative with coronavirus or a child whose school/place of care has been shut down.

How can I improve the FFCRA?

• The FFCRA’s paid leave only extends to private businesses with fewer than 500 employees, meaning that certain businesses can take advantage of exemptions and put in danger employees who are not economically able to vouch for their own rights. Call your representative and demand that they support state legislation requiring that employers provide paid leave for the reasons detailed in the FFCRA regardless of their number of employees.

More things to stay active:
- This excellent email from Coalition Z
​- Advocate for rent suspension-- it's the humane thing to do
- Advocate to not cut education budgets right now
- Sign up for The Broad Room's email list-- they send out great comprehensive updates

QUARANTINE TO-DO LIST

With COVID-19 rampaging our country, and the circumstances only growing more and more dangerous, now is more important than ever that we take part in self-isolation. But we all know that spending extended periods of time inside can get dull pretty fast, so we’ve put together 10 ideas of things you can do to pass the time!

1. Have a movie marathon or binge a new show! Make a list of your favorite movies or go through a series (e.g. Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, etc.). No matter what sort of movies you choose, it’s always a fun way to pass your time. Netflix Party is a Chrome extension that allows you to watch anything on Netflix with your friends. Here are some of our recommendations for things to watch: Booksmart (Hulu), Jane the Virgin (Netflix), Glee (Netflix), Inception (Netflix), Someone Great (Netflix) and more.
2. Jigsaw puzzles! Jigsaw puzzles are a super fun activity to do with your family, and if you get ones that are big enough, they take up plenty of time. You can also do virtual jigsaw puzzles online if you can’t get real ones. Here are a few links to ones you can do:
3. Phone banking! The election cycle may have been shaken up a bit due to the virus, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still ways for you to help from home. Whichever candidate you support, you can log onto their website and figure out how to support them through phone banking. You’ll be given a list of phone numbers to call and can get in touch with voters to try to convince them to support the candidate you do!
4. Write letters! We’re all so interconnected through social media and our phones, but sometimes it’s nice to take a minute to reach out to the people you care about through good, old fashioned snail mail. Let them know why they’re important to you or just that you’re thinking about them! It’s nice to spend some time writing, and your friends and family will be so excited to get them. 
5. Arts and crafts! Pick up knitting or drawing or painting, anything creative! Doing something artsy helps to focus you and relieves anxiety. It’s a good time to develop your skills, and you can make fun things for yourself, your friends, or maybe even your teachers to give to them once school’s back in session.
6. Exercise! With everything that’s currently happening, anxiety and stress are on the rise for everyone. Even just 10 minutes of daily exercise can help clear your mind and kick start your endorphins so that you can have a better day.
7. Video calls! It’s important that everyone does their part contributing to social distancing in order to flatten the curve of infection rates. However, spending all the time at home can get tiresome and lonely. Keep in touch with family and friends through group FaceTimes, Zoom calls, Google Hangouts, Skype, and more.
8. Journaling! Because we’re so often overwhelmed with the amount of work we usually have to do, this is actually one of the best times to sit down and self-reflect. Whether it’s letting out months of built-up distress, figuring out new goals and motivations, or just writing to pass time, putting your thoughts into words can help you feel mentally fresher.
9. Tiktok- watch, make, dance, waste time, etc.
   
10. Self-care! We’ve mentioned slowing things down in order to make ourselves feel emotionally better, but now is also a great opportunity to take part in a physical break too. Take a long bath, light a candle, put on a face mask! Whatever you usually rarely do, you can now dedicate a whole night or even day to just recharging your body.
11. Learn! At first glance, it sounds absolutely ridiculous to spend this time willingly educating ourselves out of school, especially for most of us who have online school anyways. But hear us out: after hours of watching Netflix, Youtube, and more, entertainment honestly gets less and less entertaining. Quarantine inevitably becomes painfully boring because of the lack of physical and mental stimulation. If school isn’t too busy, try researching something you’ve always been curious about. Oftentimes our school education doesn’t always provide learning for the sake of learning, so now is the best time to do so!

Also, read these(!!): 9 Delightful Articles to Help You Get Through This Week

Extra-Special Cute Puppy Video