PERSONA
BY KE L L Y MASSIC O T
Q: What can you tell us about the
BRITTANI LEWIS
A
s the beginning of last year started, none of us were prepared for the chaos that 2020 would bring. As the world shut down and citizens were asked to shelter in place, there were those who knew it was their time to step up. Healthcare workers became front line fighters. It takes a strong person to want to step up when everyone is being asked to take a step back, but Brittani Lewis knew she couldn’t just sit by when there was work to be done. Lewis is a NOLA Program Associate for CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), a nonprofit founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee. CORE has been working closely with Mayor Cantrell’s office, head of the New Orleans Health Department Dr. Jennifer Avegno and others to help fight the pandemic. Lewis has lost several family members to the COVID-19 virus and felt she needed to give back to her community, particularly those members with disabilities or language barriers. Q: What has this year meant and been to you? A: In terms of the fight against the coronavirus, last year was a year of resilience, perseverance and reflection. Resilience and perseverance were shown from the healthcare/
18
FEBRUARY 2021
work you’re personally doing to help battle the coronavirus? A: I work as a CORE registration
body to the spirit realm, the virus has been very taxing mentally on myself and those around me.
coordinator, which entails helping Q: What can you tell us about the patients make testing appointments, work CORE is doing this year with working closely with our site the pandemic? managers and sending newsletters A: Since March, CORE has been to our recurring patients. I help providing free testing to communities administer tests to patients, and as in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago one of the bilingual team members, I and [the] Navajo Nation. As of communicate with Spanish speakers January, CORE has administered to explain how to take the test. I more than 4 million tests across frontline workers who experienced also work closely with teachers who the nation. We have been espemany sleepless nights to not only receive recurring tests each week, cially focused on serving at-risk figure out how the virus affects the and after months of seeing these communities, including low-income body, but also how to slow down the people each week, we’ve built a groups, communities of color, the spread of the virus. Resilience and close relationship. In my everyday elderly and essential workers. In perseverance were also demonstrated life, I make choices based on the addition to testing, CORE has been within communities nationwide to advice from health care providers. providing contact tracing programs do what we can to assist At work, I make sure to and support services to help people FUN FACT the health care workers in wear the PPE provided, quarantine and isolate. In New What festival the fight against coronarespirator, surgical masks, Orleans specifically, the CORE team are you most virus. I’ve spent a lot of and gloves. Outside of has been hyper-focused on mobile looking forward to returning? time reflecting and being work, I make sure to testing to bring resources directly to Essence grateful for what I have, social distance, wash my at-risk communities. CORE works Festival as this year has proven hands, wear my masks hard every day to ensure there is that we can lose anything or anyone everywhere I go in public settings accessible and equitable testing in a matter of seconds. and get tested every two weeks. and resources for all. Keeping these guidelines in mind, I Q: Why did you want to work educate myself and loved ones about Q: Why do you do what you do? at the front lines of fighting this COVID-19, attempt to debunk the A: I fight the pandemic because it has pandemic? myths I hear and stay relevant on caused so much destruction in many A: Sitting around was not an option what is occurring with the virus. lives. This pandemic has touched for me. I come from a family that people from all walks of life - no provides a helping hand to anyone Q: How has the pandemic impacted matter their color, age, income or who needs it, whether big or small, you personally? social status. What gives me hope: and that’s what drove me to work A: The virus has impacted my family, with destruction and devastation, with CORE. I also chose to work my friends and their families, all of there is an opportunity for something on the frontlines because I saw the whom I care deeply about. Between new to come, something that can be impact the virus had within schools. family members losing jobs, catching rebuilt. and protect their families. Before I worked with CORE, I worked COVID from working, caring for with CityYear and worked at ARISE sick family members, or having Academy. When the school shut family members transition from the down, an email was sent about one of the faculty members who passed away due to the virus. This To continue this conversation, and find out what’s broke my heart, and this is when next for Brittani Lewis, visit our website for exclusive I realized how severe this virus is. online content. MyNewOrleans.com
