The Vaughn-Uch Family

Meet the Vaughn-Uch family - this household consists of two adults, two clever kids, and a sly cat named Bond…Mr. Bond to be exact. 

Like every family in the world right now- this family has their own way about how they are handling this pandemic. For them, from raising two boys, their careers, to juggling changing family life, their hands are full!  Nathan (he/him), the father in the household is an essential employee - a supervisor in a call center that assists people by verifying their documentation for enrollment in health insurance. His partner, Sakorn (she/her) is a retail manager whom has been furloughed through this pandemic. Last but certainly not least Nathan’s two elementary age boys Ayden (he/him) and Logan (he/him) who share the home on the weekends.

With the couple having the two boys on the weekends, they have had to ensure a new level of relationship with the boys mother. Building more of a partnership between their homes has become an effective tool to ensure the boys lives stay stable and “normal” in this very unstable time in our world with kids out of school, and shelter in place effective.  “It’s a shared responsibility with their mom.” Sakorn tells us.  “Because I don’t have a lot to do in the mornings, I review school work and if anything is missed or returned by the teacher, I communicate that with the mother and make sure it gets done.” Besides school work, Nate and Sakorn ensure their house is filled to the brim with love, laughter and creativity. “ Of course as  a parent I’m trying to keep a schedule for them. I want them to realize just because they’re doing school work at home they still have responsibilities and don’t create bad habits of ‘quarantine lazy life’. It can’t be video games all day, we have to do things like yard work, or creating a project in the basement because if we allow it they will play video games all day.” Nate tells us. Nate and Sakorn have been working with the boys to do fun and creative things such as the Rainbow sign they created for the 518 Rainbow Hunt, pictured above. Nate also tells us he’s working on cleaning out old wood in the basement to see what projects can become of what they already have. 

Besides being home and enjoying family life on the weekends, Nate and Sakorn have two very different work worlds that have been effected in their own ways. Sakorn is on furlough, but although her company isn’t paying her a wage, they are thankfully paying her benefits so she still is enrolled in healthcare. The biggest struggle many retail locations may have when the pause is over is that they are going into their busiest season.  “My biggest fear is when we re open retail it will be going into the holidays - we are unprepared with hiring, training, and all of the above.”

While those concerns are valid, Sakorn is thinking more in the present, as her routine was completely changed. “I’m use to a routine of going into work, and constantly work with the general public. Not having interaction with people, I have to find things to keep myself busy.” Sakorn tells us of hobbies she had never imagined picking up. “I’m a city career girl” She tells us, “who would have thought I’d try gardening.” She laughs and goes on to tell us  “I’m usually creative but I find my creative juices aren’t really flowing right now so it’s a time to learn new things.” Amongst those things is learning how to coexist with her fiance, Nate. “I’m getting used to living with him, being with him 24/7 is great but different. We have been doing well communicating how we feel and giving each other space when needed.”

Nate working from home and in healthcare, he had to ensure he did have his space in that sense and as well as a physical work space working from home. So what does he do? He built himself a life-size Lego fortress to ensure HIPPA was being abided by within his own house as mentioned above he works in verifying consumer information for health insurance enrollment. Working remotely has its own struggles in many ways, and with Nate it’s caused him to look at new leadership styles. “As a supervisor the way I lead is through socialization, and one on one interaction. A lot of what works for me is a visual connection, and now we have to adapt in a virtual sense and have to keep people motivated while they’re working from home - trying to come up with creative ways to interact is the biggest hurdle”

With the kids and work, also comes extended family and how this pandemic has effected them. Sakorn’s family lives all across upstate NY, and one family member is in NYC. Her sister and her mother live close by to them, but with everyone quarantined she has not seen them in nearly a month.  “I'm usually there every week, my sister is pregnant and my mom is older. Their household is extremely is susceptible to it (COVID-19) between the pregnancy, my mom being older, and my 4 year old niece.” Nate tells us his father lives in the Philippines, and it’s extremely difficult there. “The president put an order out that if anyone leaves their house without permission from him directly, police can shoot anyone on site. They can’t even go into their yards.” The biggest concern for Nate is his fathers health. "He had a quadruple bypass last year, so if he has to go to the hospital, he has to worry about getting permission.” 

What these stories boil down to is the notion that everyone is dealing with this pandemic in their own way, assessing their own struggle, and embracing what they can control as you may have read in all of our other interviews shared thus far. We are all doing our best, whether we are on the front lines actually in a hospital, or on the front lines at home . Being a parent is an essential worker, it’s a hat that you don’t just get to take off because the state - the world - is on pause. Now more than ever we have to support the parents, because the children as cliche as it sounds, are the future. Some are spending day in and day out, 24/7 with their kids. Like Nate and Sakorn, they’re ensuring school work is completed so their learning won’t be stunted. They’re ensuring their kids are safe, yet educated on what’s going on in the world. They’re ensuring their kids are creative and not stuck in what could be a depression of ‘quarantine laziness’. They’re hugging their kids, and telling them everything will be okay soon - even if they aren’t so sure. So, remember when you think of essential workers to think of the parents on the front lines at home because they’re working to ensure the future of humanity is still growing up to be exceptional. 

Luke Grandis

Meet Luke Grandis (they/them), Statewide Organizer for VOCAL-NY. VOCAL is a grassroots community-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to building political power among people with low to no income impacted by the war on drugs, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and mass incarceration. “Focused on policies of justice & equity and politics of love & compassion, we fight to change laws statewide to change and save the lives of all New Yorkers.”

Luke and their organization have been extremely busy during this pandemic - now more than ever supporting vulnerable communities and individuals not only on a personal basis, but larger scale basis is extremely crucial for a prosperous and safe future for all. We talked to Luke about their work and the pandemic. “Even though I work remotely since VOCAL is based out of Brooklyn, I miss my ability to go into my local office in Albany and walking or skateboarding to and from work. Work has changed tremendously as a result of COVID-19. I am usually traveling regularly and we are normally storming the Capitol, lobbying, taking direct actions & holding press conferences on a regular basis to put pressure on elected officials & fight for changes in legislation. We are still organizing, and moving to action remotely, but have shifted our focus to addressing more immediate needs-based issues that have come to exist due to COVID-19.”

VOCAL is one of many organizations fighting through this pandemic, in solidarity. People like Luke are often overlooked when you think of the word “essential” but in the worlds of the humans VOCAL-NY fights to protect, they’re essential everyday. Especially in times like this, we can’t just stop fighting for equality, we can’t stop the compassion for other humans. The homeless can’t stay home, vulnerable communities become more vulnerable. Lukas tells us, “My biggest struggle with this quarantine is actively worrying about people who use drugs and/or people in recovery as overdose rates are spiking right now and, as a harm reductionist and person in remission from heroin dependence, this is hard not to think about consistently.” 

Although there are pertinent issues, and working from home makes it difficult to disconnect, Luke finds their ways of doing so. “I put up some holiday lights to brighten things up at home/temporary office. Aroma-therapy, getting out into nature when possible, indoor plants, and getting in touch with music have been extremely helpful.” 

Like many of us, we are quarantined with our partners, and that could be a true test for some. Lucky enough to have that human connection, and potentially strengthening it. Luke commented  “ I don’t care if it sounds cheesy: This pandemic has taught me how much I appreciate and am grateful for being friends with the person I love and am married to. We share a small apartment and I can’t imagine both working from home and sharing this square footage with anyone else and getting along so well.”

Luke has an aura that radiates love and positivity, and you could see that in their eyes even before they told us they wanted to ensure everyone knew this: "I hope for anyone and everyone reading this to know I love them and that their value is based on far more than their productivity.” We are lucky to have humans like Luke fighting for our communities. 

In closing, let’s all look for appreciation in our surroundings. Whether it’s our significant others, our health, look towards uplifting others and realize there are organizations you can become members of to champion their goals and mission. “To anyone who has ever wanted to make a difference, but felt like activism and politics are intimidating, I’ve been there before too and had no clue the difference we can all make as individuals. Your voice matters.”

Thank you Luke and the folx at Vocal for all of the work you do, being there for humans of NY.

For more information on VOCAL-NY please visit http://www.vocal-ny.org or follow them on instagram @vocalnewyork. 

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Mx. Grandis and not reflective Faiella Studios.

The Westlin Family

Meet the Westlin family, Gabby and Joseph (she/her, he/him) - a lovely married couple whom are both dealing with this pandemic in different ways. Gabby, works in mortgage the industry and Joseph is a College Professor. 

With colleges working remotely, and people still in the need of housing, there is a busy dynamic in their household of two working adults. Gabby tells us “Most days I get up and move straight into my office. I'm still in my pajamas, and the rest of my house is still asleep. I belong to the lucky group of people that are considered essential employees. What's even better, my job allows me to work directly from home. I am definitely working more, but that's not a bad thing.”  Gabby tells us that mortgage rates are extremely low right now so her company is as busy as ever. “My coworkers have kids, so they have even more on their plates. It takes a village and a strong work family to get through this right now with any job - essential and non (essential).”

At the end of the day, a job is just that and there is more to the day than working. “Every meme you have seen on social media about people working from home is absolutely true. My hair is dirty and there are no snacks left in the pantry.” Gabby goes on to say “I don't know where to begin... sad news seems to be lurking everywhere we look, it's tough trying to come up for air.” 

Joe tells us prior to the pandemic, he would wake up, take a shower, put on his dress clothes and head to campus. “Gabby bought me a device to store all my dress pants about a week prior to campus closing….now it looks so sad just holding all of the pants I haven’t worn for a month and a half.” 

The difficulty of completely changing your day to day is exhausting and this is just the reality many humans are facing, no matter what career, walk of life, or where they are in the world - that’s why it’s a pandemic effecting us all. It’s important to share these types of stories - real people going through this very real struggle but also while remembering and holding onto what makes us feel positivity. Gabby tells us in the Westlin household, there is continuously lots of laughter, hugs, love and understanding. “It’s okay to not be okay.”

Unfortunately the Westlin family has had their share of challenges in comforting their own extended family - particularly on Joe’s side. “In the last month alone, one of my best friends was laid off, my brother was furloughed, and I lost a grandfather to the virus itself. It is difficult to predict what else will happen before this is all over, and how different the world will look when it’s safe to go outside again. I’m lucky…my wife and I are safe at home and both have our jobs, but we have worries, concerns, and anxieties every day about our friends, loved ones, and the world as a whole.” About Joe’s grandfather… in one of the images above in their interview, you will see Joe and Gabby embracing. I took the shot and upon reviewing the images, I noticed a sun flare that created a rainbow on my lense. It was a sunny day, no moisture on the ground, and my lenses were clean. I didn’t see this in my eye piece as I was shooting their session, and that to me is truly beautiful. No matter what or who you believe in, this is a sign to me of his grandfather smiling down. A glimpse of love in an image that is nothing but love, in a world that is trying us all. 

“ We are all in this together” Gabby tells us when talking about how this has impacted our world. “I didn't realize how divisive our nation would be regarding the value of human life. I know that's pretty deep, but I have not been a part of something like this in all my 30 years. I have always held the people who are on the front lines in the highest regard. I don't think every one understands just how dangerous and scary it is for them. I have some close friends who are young physicians, and I can barely get through their texts some days as they describe the hospital scenes.” Even though they have their own challenges, the Westlin family continues to think of their loved ones during this time. She goes on to tell us using this platform “I want to acknowledge not only the essential workers from delivery drivers to nurses, but also everyone that is sheltering in place… It is not easy for anyone, especially parents who have become educators to their children at home. To all the furloughed and unemployed, I am so deeply sorry. To all those that are separated from their loved ones, or are sick and self-quarantined, I am so sorry. To all those that are sheltering in place alone, I am with you and I love you.”

To be able to look at this situation objectively, even though being extremely busy, tired, and having their share of stress and anxiety, it’s oddly heartwarming to hear them think of others. Joe brings up a good point in stating. “The influx of charitable giving and support we see for healthcare and other essential workers is inspiring. At the same time we see people protesting the closure of businesses while others insist that we stay home and stay safe.The day after my grandfather passed away from Coronavirus, I saw a picture from one of the protests to end the quarantine. The picture featured a woman holding a big sign that said “I need a haircut!” The idea that someone was openly placing her own wants over the needs of the immunocompromised and elderly infuriated me. My message to this woman and everyone else that wants this quarantine to end, is that right now it’s not about you. It is about us, and how we can protect those among us who need it most.” Joe, you’re right. The message is we will not get through this unless we all do what is right, together.  The guidelines in place are there to protect the residents of NYS and beyond so that we can operate and move the economy again, spend time with our loved ones again, hug our friends and family, and live…again.

From this tragedy, comes beauty as surreal as that sounds. It’s ringing through each interview, and we here at Faiella Studios say it time and time again. We are learning not to take a thing for granted - freedom, love, our loved ones, routine. Whatever you’re longing for, whatever you’re learning, don’t take this time for granted. Don’t let the quarantine go in vain. We need to emerge better. We need to emerge this more grateful. Travel, take the trip, do the date night, buy your favorite food at the grocery store, say “I love you” more. We sure didn’t think the last time we would go out to a restaurant would be our last in months, we didn’t think the last grocery trip before quarantine would be the last we felt safe doing, and who knows when we can do that again. I didn’t think the last time I said “I love you” in person to my parents would be almost 5 months ago. That’s our problem, or maybe instead of a problem, that’s our lesson; be more present in all aspect of your life - you never know when that’s going to be taken away from you - heal the world only after we heal ourselves..

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Mr. & Mrs. Westlin, and not reflective Faiella Studios.

Crystal

Meet Crystal (she/her), a trained Environmental Engineer, trained to work on many types of projects, including but not limited to: maintaining safe municipal water supplies, controlling emissions and tracking chemical use at manufacturing plants, managing waste handling for hospitals, in upstate NY.  “A decade ago I chose to answer a lifelong calling to become a teacher of math, engineering and environmental science. I’m still looking for a full-time Faculty position. Right now I teach as an Adjunct, I tutor, and I am essential staff for a community college campus. Now, when students ask (and someone *always* asks) “When are we ever going to need math?”, I can point to this pandemic as a key reason and say “I can help you learn this, if you’ll let me.” ”

As a member of a college campus staff, she performs inspections to maintain the facility so that it’s ready for the public when the world turns back on. These people behind the scenes are especially crucial during this time. “While doing monthly inspections recently, it seemed quite sad and lonely on campus. So many beautiful science labs for future nurses and infectious disease specialists, art studios and teaching galleries for the artists that make quarantine bearable, equipment for future manufacturing technicians and future construction managers – all currently idle and empty. I feel like I’m in a movie where a person is all alone at some remote interstellar outpost, brushing accumulated dust off solar panels every morning, maintaining a beacon that’s sending out a continuously looping message: “Come back! Come back! … Some day, when it’s safe.” Beep, beep, beep.” 

Crystal is extremely animated and had even drawn on her whiteboard (pictured above) some of the things she does on the daily. At our meet up, fire extinguisher in hand, she was extremely eager to tell us what she does - which translated to someone who loves their job. It’s from the teachers to anyone working on a college campus that are truly special. Crystals interview had made us extremely eager for schools to open up again, as she just wants the best for everyone. “I miss everybody! I especially miss my students and I worry about them. I worry about the ones with “underlying conditions” such as having the bad luck to have cancer this year. I worry about the ones who are losing members of their families. I worry about the ones who are nearing the breaking point of dropping out of school with piled up debt and no job prospects. I also worry about the potential for losing professors who have so much to offer.” 

Education is always on the radar with Individuals who foster learning being underpaid, and education cuts in NYS - but that hasn’t stopped Crystal. “My classes have all moved to distance learning and some students are really struggling….On one recent night I was online until midnight tutoring a young lady who was freaking out that she was going to fail her College Algebra class because she just wasn’t understanding things from reading notes and watching videos. She kept apologizing for “being stupid” and thanking me for being patient. Really and truly, I could see that she has a natural knack for math, just like all human beings have a natural knack for math. If you don’t believe me, give two children different sized pieces of cake and you’ll see it in action!  But, it *is* hard to “get” via online instruction and it takes a *huge* amount of extra time. For example, a question that I can explain in 10 minutes in person takes about an hour online. Technology can be great for “study anytime” convenience, but it can also cause a lot of headaches, such as online tests that get disconnected in the middle and a student that should get 100% instantly gets 60% because they weren’t finished. It’s not fair! So, I wish I could reach through the screen and hug that student. I wish I could look directly in her eyes and tell her that she is definitely not stupid, that what she is trying to do *is* hard and that I truly admire her persistence. Keep on keeping on!”

That story had resonated with us a different way. It really opened our eyes - being out of school for years now - that there are people so hungry for further learning and education, and are being starved their fair shot. We didn’t like thinking of the negative, so we thought of the positive. There are so many online tutors like Crystal, many online classes, we have to hold out that hope and positive outlook that we will all see each other again next semester. “ l like teaching online, but I *love* teaching in person. There’s just something about the energy in a classroom that can’t be delivered online. Human beings evolved to learn from other human beings. Computers are better than nothing, but they’re substantially less than the real thing. We need to be together, in the same place, at the same time!” We agree, Crystal. 

So let’s keep in mind those that our preserving the integrity of all houses of education. Who are up countless hours tutoring those who are struggling with the learning curve. Thank you, you are truly essential, and truly preserving the future. With  the closing from Crystal, “Come back! Come back! … Some day, when it’s safe.” Beep, beep, beep.

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Crystal and not reflective Faiella Studios.

Mackenzie Caldwell

Meet Mackenzie Caldwell (she/her), she’s on the very front lines of the public during all of this: grocery store co-manager. In life pre-Covid19 Pandemic, most of the world had deemed grocery and retail workers as ‘non essential’ and those who work in those stores often are overlooked. Kenz has made each of her employees feel her positive energy, long before COVID-19 had come into our lives. “You have to lead by example, if you walk around miserable with your head down, that isn’t going to help anyone, so you have to walk in positive and take it from there.” 

Given the contact many grocery store workers have with the public, they are at a potentially higher risk to fall ill from COVID-19. Mackenzie realizes this, and consistently shows appreciation to her staff. “ My team comes to work every day, and they don’t have to” she says while discussing struggles she faces on a daily basis. “Everyday I go into work not knowing - new policies come down to communicate to my entire team- which is hundreds of people, and they need it mandated in ten minutes. Being on these conference calls, hearing all the policies when it comes to sanitations, masks, what we can and can’t do -and feeding it through chain of command and all the people I’m in charge of.”

The shining of true leadership is seen amongst these times. It had illuminated to me the meaning of essential, the meaning of true heroes. Without these peoples’ will to come into work and stock the shelves, lead their teams with the policies that keep us all safe, we would be in a worse place. It’s truly admirable how Kenz and her other co - manager consistently reassure their staff and point them towards success while keeping them safe too.  

With stress, comes down time and to say her routines have changed is an understatement although the chain she works for is trying to limit the time employees are in the stores. “When I get home I strip into cozy clothes, and usually pop open a beer.” The smaller things in life seem to become more appreciated.

This Pandemic has taught her as a person she is “way more social” than she thought she was. “A lot of  people who  think they are introverts think “oh man, this isn’t working”! “ In regards to the public, Kenz shed light that “It’s crazy to see the two opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to types of people. There’s people who walk into the store and say “thank you so much you’re the reason we can come here and get stuff, then there are people who are like "WHERES all THE FOOD?! Why aren’t you stocking your shelves?! Then there are the people in the middle who don’t really bother you, do their thing and get out.”

When it comes to those at the end of that spectrum aggressively concerned with bare shelves, as Kenz had stated “how do you not understand what’s going on right now.”

Large ‘box’ grocery stores like hers are doing the best they can with what they have. There isn’t anything they’re hiding in the back, so be grateful and as pleasant as you can. As a concerned citizen, I asked Kenz what message she could relay to people at home that are doing their grocery shopping. “We have signs even posted that say if you can- shop alone. Don’t bring your kids, don’t bring your family if you can help it. I have stickers all over the floor for one way aisles so people aren’y passing each other. We have so many procedures in place, so  I would just say get in, get out, don’t hoard things- theres a limit on things now for a reason- and thats why this food supply is the way it is because people took advantage of it, panicked, bought too much, and now we need to catch up.” The potential for so much waste is more detrimental to economy and the planet than safely shopping as needed, and that was made clear during this interview. 

In closing, her biggest message is to, “understand these people don’t have to show up to work, my team puts their health at risk and don’t have to - they show up for me everyday and for people that come in and treat them poorly at times and complain there’s nothing on the shelves…when we are tired, we are stressed, we are afraid of getting sick. But we are here for you,  to feed you, this community.”

Personally, I hope people come out of this pandemic and appreciate humanity. The common thread upon all of these stories is the human connection, and we need to repair that. As Mackenzie stated  “we need to appreciate the whole world more,….now we are realizing that we miss it, so don’t take it for granted. I think a lot of good things are going to come out of this …. positive messages being sent, and we are in a time out right now…I think It’s going to be a lot different when we come out of it, I think a lot of protocols will stay in place as far as sanitation and cleanliness.”

Thank you Mackenzie, and all others on the front line in these grocery stores, consistently coming to work each day so we can shop for needs to fuel our families.

This interview made us realize this is a new beginning for a new chapter of life - how we function, how we shop, how we treat other humans. We now realize the importance of what we once overlooked, and after this is all said and done and we are on the cusp of a new chapter, I pray we carry this gratitude forward. 

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Ms. Caldwell and not reflective Faiella Studios.

Katryn Malen - Graham's Coffee Parlor

Grahams Coffee Parlor - truly the home of coffee served with a smile. Located in Niskayuna, NY, this quaint coffee cafe has endured many feats in just 9 months of being open. 

“Got to get my elastic ready!” Owner/founder Katryn Malen (she/her) states as she emerges through a make shift walk up window with a coffee cup personalized with a name and smiley face. That was the first glimpse of community that Graham’s Coffee Parlor showed us. They don’t just serve coffee, Graham’s truly is a community. 

Katryn goes on to tell me that her regular had made her a sparkly mask she’s delivering to her that following weekend. This sense of community wasn’t just with one customer, she (Katryn) had short less than a minute interactions with all of her customers in the hour I spent there - but they were meaningful interactions. She asks people by name how their kids are, how they are. Myself not ever meeting Katryn before our interview, she talked to me like an old friend, and her calm yet bubbly aura makes me crave returning whenever I can.

Nearly a decade ago as a Capitol Region native, Katryn moved to NYC to work in the coffee industry but after 5 years she returned. “I was always happy making coffee for people because you don’t go to a coffee shop to be upset, you go for your day to be better, and its an easy way to make people really happy”. So, she worked for a few coffee shops then realized she needed now to do it for herself. “Grahams is truthfully a state of mind. This pandemic has proven that because people are telling us they don’t want to leave, it makes them happy here. Everything on the menu is someones favorite thing, and I built this place keeping in mind that I don’t care how much money I make. If I was happy, people who work here and came here would be happy, and that’s what I did and all I’ve ever wanted. Its not about the best coffee, I have the best machines, but its more about how my guests feel when they’re here, how the drink makes them feel throughout the day.”  

So, Who is Graham you ask? Graham is a family name that comes from Katryn’s mothers side. Inside the shop, she has drawn murals on the wall, everyone you see is someone she knows and has impacted her life and business. On the back wall is the beautiful portrait of her grandparents who originally owned the building back in the 1970s. To the right is her mother who was a rock to her growing up, and to the left her uncle whom helped her renovate the building. “It (Graham’s) makes people think of ‘grandma’, a comforting name that organically turned the business into Graham’s.” There is a personal flair wherever you turn In the cafe from those people in her life, to Sharon Springs granola on the shelves. 

Organizationally, Graham’s had to take an overhaul. They have implemented online ordering, and ordering through mobile app is now available. The most impressive part was that Katryn had set up a walk up window for her customers. Graham’s originally is just a coffee shop, there was no walk up window or drive through, so Katryn had to get creative. She had an extra pastry case in the basement, and her innovative mind put it to good use. Her building has a driveway on the side, so she propped open one of her windows (pictured above) with the pastry case and made it a sanitary space for people to get their food and beverage passed through with a smile. “Sometimes Graham’s staff is the only people some people have seen in days - weeks. “ Katryn states she’s lucky enough to have this. She offers more food as sales have shifted because people aren’t inside. They now have incredible egg sandwiches because the demand is that people need food with their coffee. She says it’s extremely ironic - “I remember saying that I didn’t open a business to make just egg sandwiches but now we make awesome egg sandwiches that people order like crazy.”

Being a small business owner, regardless of what your business is, everything is always changing and you have to adapt with it as anything can happen tomorrow. “The first week was intense I was working with my staff member Marina and we were the only people each other was seeing, working all day together - crying not crying. The weirdest thing was I’m blasting Spice Girls and there are traffic jams at the gun shop next store. It (the pandemic) was effecting everyone in a different way. For me, and my business, i’m still in here and people are supporting me - buying gift cards, showing up.”  Katryn attributes some of her hardworking fight mentality from her upbringing. “I come from a single mom house, there are bills that still have to be paid. If they shut us down for coffee, then we adapt. We change equipment, I’ll bring lasagna to peoples houses, I don’t care.”

Katryn jokes how she has to do something to memorialize sitting at the pastry case when this is over, and the hours on end of handing people their orders through. While this pandemic has brought a lot of positive things, testing new foods, making connections, thats also the person Katryn truly is. 

Through all of this, she doesn’t approach adapting as a struggle. “The biggest struggle is mental endurance. Every day has been a battle not knowing what tomorrow will bring. I was already open 7 days a week, now I’m like WOW, in thought then I was working as hard as I could possibly work, now I have to work even harder.” She is here every day open to close and states from that “It’s not complaining, it’s the hustle of surviving. It’s the mental endurance needed to keep going no matter what.” 

“The most important message I can provide my regulars, and the public who are thinking of giving Graham’s a shot: I’m a piece of normal, a steady normal slice in the world that is anything but normal right now.” She says with smile that “I already had a personal business, it’s a whole new level of connection. I’ms o happy to still bring happiness to people because thats the only way I can be happy. It’s a two way street at Grahams.”

Addmitingly, this was our first time at Grahams, and definitely not our last. Support your local small businesses, support other humans! As I said with our last story, champion other peoples passions. You can find Katryn and her smiling staff seven days a week at 3406 State Street, Schenectady NY, 12304. Call in orders are helpful, so they can be reached at 518-527-1202. 

They’re also on Instagram at @grahamscoffeeparlor and grahamscoffeeparlor.com. 

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Ms.Malen and not reflective Faiella Studios.

Ryan Leddick

Meet Ryan Leddick (he/him), a self titled singer-songwriter living in the Capitol Region who has been playing music professionally for nearly a decade. Ryan studied music in college, and has been touring the northeast for the past few  years. In this uncertain time, with the state being on pause, musicians like Ryan are unable to tour and play music - but he  clearly shows us that does not stop the passion. “Since the virus I have had to cancel a large 30 city tour and have lost a good amount of progression on my new album that is coming out in May.  In the meantime, I have found some opportunities in online live streaming.” While his live-record album Is still set to come out in May, he actually has released a single off that album today entitled ‘Sleep’ - which you can hear the full version at the bottom of this page.

During our interview with Ryan, his positive outlook and relaxed aura made him incredibly easy to relate to and speak with. This vibe easily translates to his music. We asked him what his favorite song he’s written yet, and he playfully responded “to sound cliche I don’t think I have written my favorite song yet.  I know there are many many more to come as I am working through my craft.  I would say my style is a mix of steadfast rhythm guitar and a soulful push in the vocals.  Some may even say a mix of City in Color and Dave Matthews.  I don’t disagree.” In my opinion, huge Dallas Green (City and Color) vibes! With relatable lyrics, incredible guitar skill, and self proclaimed soulful mix of folk/rock fusion, Ryan continues to make music even through challenging times.

 While it is challenging to have your passions abruptly stunted, staying positive is the most important thing you can do Ryan tells us. “Something that I have been doing is leaning on my faith.  As a devout Tendai Buddhist I have found that meditation and good laughs on Netflix have been keeping my mind busy and at ease.” With that, daily routines shift and self care has bubbled to the top of everyones day whether they realize it or not.  “I spend much more time with myself - not so much thinking about a specific task for my boss, but more for my own health - like, how is my mind doing, and where in the day can I meditate or dive into a new book?” Ryan does identify his biggest struggle in this quarantine though - which has been keeping his body active.  “There is only so much moving you can do in your apt without annoying your roommate haha.  But that being said I’ve tried my best to keep moving and going for daily walks around my neighborhood with my mask.” The mask wearing is an Interim Guidance on Executive Order 202.16 -Requiring Face Coverings for Public and Private Employees Interacting with the Public During the COVID-19 Outbreak in NYS which was made effective April 15th, 2020 as of 8pm.

Through all of this though, Isolation has a silver lining if you look for it, and fostering what the pandemic is teaching us when we look internally is truly special. While Ryan has had his fair share of struggles that he admits to us, he has a new sense of awareness for human connection which has evolved into a higher level of respect and gratitude for his partner. “ The pandemic has taught (me) how much my partner means to me.  We have been socially isolated due to us not living together, and FaceTiming every night just shows how much this person means to me. You really take for granted the time you spend with someone if you don’t live with them.” 

On his social media long before this pandemic had hit us, you can find Ryan glow in his words talking about his supporters in his life and career. He has such gratitude in his heart as a musician, and as a soul. He also discusses he has dedicated his newest live record album to - in his words- “the feeling of home, and the idea that home is wherever you are.” He goes on to say that “Out of the many places I have played, these songs have echoed my many conversations with you all…” meaning his very loyal following. “From a beer in Boston, to a conversation with a stranger in NYC, to the sound guy at a festival in Washington DC…. you all that supported me and continue to support me are family. You make the incandescent light bulbs from any stage that shine on me, home.”

 We have been looking at this Pandemic from many different lenses as humans -or at least we at Faiella Studios have. The creators, the artists, the people who feel their passions and thrive off of sharing them with the world - we have to remember them. We have to support them when we can - champion other peoples’ successes, and take in how their creations make us feel. Whether it’s getting lost in the eyes of artwork, or getting lost in the guitar strings of music like Ryans’.

Thank you Ryan for continuing to create music for us to enjoy during this tough time in world history, and for your positive outlook. 

If you want to hear more from Ryan, support him, and keep up to date on show updates and music releases, he can be found at: ryanleddick.com or on instagram @ryanleddickmusic. 

 -> If you or someone you know needs additional information about any Coronavirus policy in NYS, please refer to the New York State Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/ or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus (COVID-19) Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 -ncov/index.html

 // Please note all quoted statements above are those of Mr. Leddick and not reflective Faiella Studios.

---

Scott O'Malley

Meet Scott O’Malley (he/him), a Supervisor in the healthcare field with an organization that assists people to enroll in health insurance. Scott is a leader in his department, and an extremely outgoing individual. This has been an intense time in United States history - many of us alive have never lived through anything like this, and hopefully never will again. 

We believe healthcare should be a universal right, and those on the front lines include people like Scott who you may not realize exist as an integral part of the machine. “We are doing our best to get you what you need for insurance, and we will continue to do our best daily. Be safe and be kind we are all going through this together — only together can we beat this.” 

Working in an office environment can be taxing on many people, but Scott has held a positive outlook and does manage to keep his staff in high spirits as well. Our whole interview, Scott had nothing but a smile on his face, and was glowing when he discussed his team, and the work they do for the residents of NYS, knowing he is helping the greater good. In his position, right now, there is no working from home. “Knowing where I work is still providing a great service to people who need it has been a huge help (in staying positive) — currently, in some of the most difficult times we face we can and will overcome this.” 

Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of working in the service industry, at the end of the day human connection and helping others is a key component. Whether it’s working as a team or independently it’s for the greater good and far too often Call Centers get overlooked. 

On a personal note, Scott has a growing family at home he provides for - children and a wife. “It (Covid-19) has really put a lot in perspective for me - not just at work but the people I love most in the world.”

As we’ve been interviewing people for this project, a common theme emerges without even being mentioned by us first: human connection. No matter what walk of life you come from, we all strive for the same things when looking from a broad scope. We truly hope that people cherish and are grateful for what they have - whether it not be much, or all the riches they could ever want. We need to foster our connections with others, and our selves. 

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Mr. O’Malley and not reflective of  his employer or Faiella Studios.

Lucas Rodriguez

Meet Lucas Rodriguez (he/him), a policies contract manager for NYS. Like many of us, his life has been flipped inside out this past month- but for him with COVID-19 in his own home, to adjusting to a learning curve of a new work environment. “I won’t forget staying up till my eyes couldn’t stay open any more making sure she was breathing. I could hear her lungs crackle every time she took a breath but since we were told at the hospital to just wait it out there was nothing we could do.” Lucas told me about his wife Katie, whom had contracted the novel coronavirus in mid March. She was not the only one - “a few days later, (from his Katie’s diagnosis) my sister-in-law and her wife came down with it (COVID-19). Only this time one of them had asthma. She ended up in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator for three days. She was the first person in her condition that walked out of St. Peter’s surviving the virus.” After my conversation with Lucas, it it became abundantly clear how grateful this pandemic has made him - and in relation to our last interview Rebecca -  slowing down and savoring the moment has become a common theme. We as humans crave connection, and when that’s taken away from us, we have to keep positive and appreciate what we can do - check in and build a stronger bond with those whom we love. “I feel like this situation we are in has brought me closer to family. I FaceTime with my sister at least once a day, which has really helped. It also has showed me how lucky I am that I married someone who puts up with my horrible taste in music, tv, and movies.” Lucas works with policies for NYS as part of his job, but when it comes to policies around this pandemic, it’s a different perspective. “Policies can change VERY quickly. I do not like living in the grey zone of life. We were not set up to work remotely, the guidance was changing hourly and when we were told to work from home, we had limited access to all of our files which made work harder and took more time to get anything done. After about two weeks we all had remote access to our computers. I try to make sure I am working just as hard at home as I would be at work.  We do have a group chat where in the morning we all say “hi” and in evening we say “goodbye”. But other than that, it is business as usual. ” He has a new coworker, Hudson pictured above.

Speaking of work, Lucas’ wife had just opened a hair salon - The Alchemists -  and is now closed until the state reopens.

What the Rodriguez family teaches us is to not lose hope, connect with each other,  check in, and don’t be afraid to listen to “bad” music, watch nonsense TV, and most importantly, keep positive. 

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Mr. Rodriguez and not reflective of  his employer or Faiella Studios.

Rebecca Volpe

Meet Rebecca Volpe (she/her), currently a patient care tech in an ICU at a local hospital - soon to be ICU nurse. Rebecca is amongst a class being allowed to take their finals and graduate early to work on the front lines of this pandemic. “It’s my calling, I’m grateful to work on the front lines during this pandemic.” In our hour speaking together, she helped me gain insight on not only what it’s like day to day in a hospital during the novel Coronavirus, but what it’s like unwinding from that at the end of the day and shedding light on human struggle, even though she’s considered a hero in our book at this trying time. “I’ve really struggled with letting go of the expectations I had for this time. I had such a clear vision of how these few months would go and I'm grieving the loss of those dreams due to the pandemic… It's interesting being thanked for the work that I do- when to me it was never a choice.” When most of us are asleep, nurses like Rebecca are helping fight COVID-19 amongst other illnesses in the ICU. She’s there to listen, laugh, heal other people while still having their own lives and cares outside the walls of a hospital. “Normally I maintain a very precarious balance between working full-time on nightshift and going to school full-time during the day. At work things are busier, but for school I'm no longer going to class or clinical. I miss seeing my friends at the gym, Metabolic Green Island. Going there was the anchor to my days, it kept my week structured.” To say perseverance is there is an understatement. “This pandemic is teaching me that even if there is chaos all around me, I can still thrive. For a long time I believed if I could just be perfect, nothing "bad" would happen to me. I think trying to be perfect gives me a sense of control. However, this "control" through perfection is an illusion- I can only do the best I can with the circumstances surrounding me. This virus has shown me how truly precious my good health is. I've also noticed, I no longer send calls to voicemail- I look forward to hearing someone's voice on the other end of the line.” The appreciation for human connection, human life is something we all need to be more aware of. After all, this project  is more than something to fill my time. This project is to create a sense of gratitude and community from all walks of life - documenting real people processing this historic time in history. Rebecca leaves us with this heart warming message that “The glorification of busy is embedded in our culture, I hope people can honor this time to slow down. I encourage everyone to meet themselves where they are right now- mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Holding on to what could have/should have been will only fester anger and resentment.” Thank you Rebecca for all you do, you’re an essential part of society - COVID-19 or not.

// Please note all quoted statements above are those of Ms. Volpe and not reflective of  her employer or Faiella Studios.