Alone Together: Storytelling in the Time of Covid-19
True storytelling is a vehicle for human connection and can ignite hope during the darkest of times. This project was launched with the goal of creating a safe and welcoming space for people to connect around their shared experiences during the time of Covid-19.
We’re dedicated to helping you tell your stories and stay connected even if we can’t be in the same room with each other. To that end, we invite you to submit a story of up to 1000 words about hope, resilience, loss, loneliness, silver linings and the unexpected gifts you’ve received during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jacquese Armstrong | Edison, NJ
For Jacquese, the isolation of quarantine sparks flashbacks of a time nearly 40 years ago when psychosis, depression, paranoia, and anxiety held her captive in her apartment. Instead of focusing on the details of her past trauma, she puts to use what helped her so many years ago: her creative mind.
Isa Coffey | Chatham, NY
When Isa’s COVID-19 symptoms reach their climax, she fears she may die alone and longs to connect with those she loves, but physical closeness is out of reach. As she fights for her life in solitude, she finds hope in the sound of Andrea Bocelli’s voice, as he sings by himself to the empty Duomo of Milan on Easter Sunday broadcast live worldwide.
Ryan Pfeil | Medford, OR
Ryan’s wife is a nurse and called to war during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a journalist, suddenly forced to work from home and to grapple with the juggling act of meeting deadlines, while being the primary caretaker of two young daughters. They want nothing more than his undivided attention.
Thomas Pickarski | New York, NY
Thomas contemplates his long-standing love affair with solitude as the backdrop of his alone time quickly shifts from the fast paced-world he has no desire to keep up with to one at a standstill with news reports that the city might temporarily bury the dead in parks because funerals aren’t allowed.
Amanda Reed | Washington, DC
Amanda recently moved into her apartment in Washington, DC across the street from Smithsonian National Zoological Park. She lives alone, hasn’t made many friends, and her whole family lives far away. She finds unexpected comfort in the company of her new neighbors, the captive lions. Their regular roars remind her to use this time to tap into her calling.
Terri Weagant | Brooklyn, NY
Amidst the global pandemic, Terri, newly unemployed and feeling desperate, becomes obsessed with a man she calls Charles. She calls him over 2,000 times before she gets through. You’ll have to hear her story to find out why her husband is not just understanding but grateful for her persistence and devotion to another man.
Jacquese Armstrong | Edison, NJ
For Jacquese, the isolation of quarantine sparks flashbacks of a time nearly 40 years ago when psychosis, depression, paranoia, and anxiety held her captive in her apartment. Instead of focusing on the details of her past trauma, she puts to use what helped her so many years ago: her creative mind.
Isa Coffey | Chatham, NY
When Isa’s COVID-19 symptoms reach their climax, she fears she may die alone and longs to connect with those she loves, but physical closeness is out of reach. As she fights for her life in solitude, she finds hope in the sound of Andrea Bocelli’s voice, as he sings by himself to the empty Duomo of Milan on Easter Sunday broadcast live worldwide.
Ryan Pfeil | Medford, OR
Ryan’s wife is a nurse and called to war during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a journalist, suddenly forced to work from home and to grapple with the juggling act of meeting deadlines, while being the primary caretaker of two young daughters. They want nothing more than his undivided attention.
Thomas Pickarski | New York, NY
Thomas contemplates his long-standing love affair with solitude as the backdrop of his alone time quickly shifts from the fast paced-world he has no desire to keep up with to one at a standstill with news reports that the city might temporarily bury the dead in parks because funerals aren’t allowed.
Amanda Reed | Washington, DC
Amanda recently moved into her apartment in Washington, DC across the street from Smithsonian National Zoological Park. She lives alone, hasn’t made many friends, and her whole family lives far away. She finds unexpected comfort in the company of her new neighbors, the captive lions. Their regular roars remind her to use this time to tap into her calling.
Terri Weagant | Brooklyn, NY
Amidst the global pandemic, Terri, newly unemployed and feeling desperate, becomes obsessed with a man she calls Charles. She calls him over 2,000 times before she gets through. You’ll have to hear her story to find out why her husband is not just understanding but grateful for her persistence and devotion to another man.
Jacquese Armstrong | Edison, NJ
For Jacquese, the isolation of quarantine sparks flashbacks of a time nearly 40 years ago when psychosis, depression, paranoia, and anxiety held her captive in her apartment. Instead of focusing on the details of her past trauma, she puts to use what helped her so many years ago: her creative mind.
Isa Coffey | Chatham, NY
When Isa’s COVID-19 symptoms reach their climax, she fears she may die alone and longs to connect with those she loves, but physical closeness is out of reach. As she fights for her life in solitude, she finds hope in the sound of Andrea Bocelli’s voice, as he sings by himself to the empty Duomo of Milan on Easter Sunday broadcast live worldwide.
Thomas
The following shorts featuring excerpts from stories from the Alone Together series was produced by Northguild in partnership with TMI Project.
Six Feet Apart Series
Terri
Ryan
Online COVID-19 Story Submissions
Matilde Simas | North Andover, MA
This is a photo essay that documents 10-year-old Sydney Loop with Down syndrome and her 4-year-old brother, Sebastian, during quarantine March-May 2020
Jibril Shepherd | Kingston, NY
In April 2020, TMI Project put out a call for COVID-19-themed stories. Most of the submissions we received were from adults. Except one: enter 7 year-old Jibril Shepherd. He sent us his own version of a COVID-19 story. And we just had to share. With the help of Jibril’s mom, a blanket fort, and the power of stay-at-home technology, we were able to capture Jibril sharing his story… in his own words.
Matilde Simas | North Andover, MA
This is a photo essay that documents 10-year-old Sydney Loop with Down syndrome and her 4-year-old brother, Sebastian, during quarantine March-May 2020
Jibril Shepherd | Kingston, NY
In April 2020, TMI Project put out a call for COVID-19-themed stories. Most of the submissions we received were from adults. Except one: enter 7 year-old Jibril Shepherd. He sent us his own version of a COVID-19 story. And we just had to share. With the help of Jibril’s mom, a blanket fort, and the power of stay-at-home technology, we were able to capture Jibril sharing his story… in his own words.
In this uncertain time of social distancing, TMI Project’s mission to ignite human connection through true storytelling has never been more important.
We’re working hard to move our canceled in-person programming online and to create virtual storytelling experiences that ignite human connection. But we need your consistent support to stay afloat and to make these adjustments more than ever.
