AJ
My mask preserves your life. I keep my germs and you keep yours. I wear my mask because I love you.
The No Evil Project is a nonprofit organization that uses art, humour, and conversation to challenge stereotypes and help people find commonality and understanding despite their differences.
Typically for the project, people pose as the Three Wise Monkeys: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil. They pick three labels that describe themselves, and write a good thing they’ve done to challenge negative stereotypes people may have about those labels.
At the start of the pandemic, we noticed that even though wearing face masks helps protect yourself and others, it caused philosophical division. In addition, since masks are associated with criminals, wearing them made people feel uncomfortable, and due to stereotypes, people of color wearing them feared for their safety. Other biases brought on by the pandemic resulted in discrimination and violence towards people of Asian descent.
So we wanted to normalize wearing masks, but with the pandemic, our traditional method of getting large groups of people together and having them touch their faces wasn’t... ideal. The solution: Breathe No Evil, a simplified COVID-19 themed version of the project. This time, people take selfies, and with just one of the poses: Cover your mouth (and nose), but with a mask.
Explore these stories to see how people of all kinds are helping their friends, family, and community, and are coming together for the common good by protecting each other with the simple act of wearing a mask.
My mask preserves your life. I keep my germs and you keep yours. I wear my mask because I love you.
I coordinated virtual Easter brunch for my family - which included teaching my 90-year-old grandmother how to use Zoom!
Face masks are really hard to wear with glasses. Also, I always smile at people in the grocery store, which you can't do with a mask on. A stranger and I perfected the what's up head nod yesterday. We take for granted how much facial expressions mean in the world.
Standing up and with those that need it most, wrote original Sanctuary ordinance on behalf of Salem's No Place for Hate Committee
I am working as a caregiver for seniors in need.
Encouraging creativity and compassion while keeping people safe by creating the Breathe No Evil program.
I'm heartened seeing communities coming together to help others in need during these difficult and strange times.
I stay inside and bake treats for my family.
I'm calling family, friends and neighbors to make sure they are ok.
Doing my best to help artists and art organizations to get what they need to survive in the current challenging time and as well as those to come! Loving my family with my entire being and reminding myself of that fact daily - so we all can keep it together for one another! :-)
Encouraging people to vote in November.
Being HIV+, for a long time, people simply expected me to keel over and die at any point. I tested positive in 1990. Still here.
My friends and I trade baked goods and crafts as a way to support each other through the pandemic.
Dropping off treats for friends and family during quarantine
Supporter of the Worcester Together fund
I go food shopping for a couple of older family friends every week so that they don’t have to leave their house during the pandemic.
I hope that we all get through this together.
Recently arranged a virtual college reunion for a group of friends I first met while studying abroad in Germany. It was wonderful to see old friends reconnect!
I'm spending my time physical distancing by working, reading, keeping in touch with family and friends, cooking for my wife and me, and daily walks.
I’ve purchased masks and gloves for those in need who couldn’t get a hold of some ahead of time. I’ve donated to service people working for all of us out there. I’ve informed people from marginalized communities through our mass media (newspaper) platforms. I’ve honored and respected the guidelines put out there to help protect us all.
Let’s get back to normal responsibly and stay inside to honor the first responders and medical experts that are fighting for our lives and theirs. Do not rush to open when there are more risks than good coming out of it. Live and let live.
Helping connect those in my community who are in need with enough resources to get by.
While social distancing has limited my interactions with those most vulnerable around me, I have been able to connect folks with resources and organizations utilizing social media, phone and internet. We must continue to look out for and help our neighbors and those most vulnerable in our...more...
I work for the North Shore Community Development Coalition as the Community Engagement Manager and I am leading the new ways of engaging the community by making wellness call to all Salem residents to make sure that in this difficult time they are aware of the pool of resources that Salem as a whole is providing. In addition, I have been following up with residents who need assistance completing the Unemployment application and finding ways to support local businesses in the Point Neighborhood.
Volunteering at the Salem Food Pantry weekly
No face covering? No problem. Read the CDC's instructions to make one or get a No Evil Project Face Mask.