Published:
March 16, 2022
In his home, his walls were filled with portraits; each uniquely framed. In each frame you could find the people that meant the world to him; people that he had to learn how to connect with in a new way like many of us due to the global pandemic.
“I think it definitely centered us as human beings, it definitely gave us a new perspective. But it also created a time and place for us to reimagine what we could be doing and what we should be doing.”
Serving the Community During a Pandemic
For over a year, while some remained at home and others worked to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, Southeast Lancaster native Joshua Hunter helped to serve and feed a community that once served and fed him. As the Director of the Crispus Attucks Community Center, he helped provide families in Southeast Lancaster (the 7th ward) with food, resources and essential items.
“There was a lot of work that I had to do to make sure that families in our communities were getting the things that they needed. It was a big lift on my shoulders. You get into this work knowing that some days are going to be a little harder than others. I've spoken with families who didn't know when their next paycheck was going to come, or if they were going to be employed past that week. So it was...real humbling moments throughout 2020.”
2020 was a year we all will never forget. It was a year full of change and constant shifts. Joshua said he was able to reconnect and remain resilient through the many shift the year brought. He credits his family for this.
“Family is everything to me.”
The year reminded us how to do what we could with what we had as we all waited for a vaccine so we could reconnect, commune and discover a new normal. Joshua knew once the vaccine was made available, he had to get it because he didn’t want to miss out on anymore of life’s precious moments.
“I think there was a lot of missed moments, through 2020, and one of the biggest ones for me was losing my grandmother. We didn't have the opportunity to really say our goodbyes; everything was on Zoom. Her last couple months was in a hospital and only one person was allowed to be in...to not be able to be there for her...it was really tough.
She's the matriarch of our family and she was there for everyone. So to make sure that we never miss those opportunities again and to truly give people their flowers while they’re here, we want to make sure that we're creating those memories but also having that time and that space to be able to truly enjoy each other. There's something powerful about being able to give a hug; to really be able to talk to someone face to face and be able to see their faces without a mask on.”
The First Step to a New Normal
To Joshua, getting the vaccine meant a sense of normalcy and a chance to reconnect with his family and community. "Our parents are older, so being able to really reconnect with them, have them over [to] enjoy a family dinner that it is really meaningful for me...to know that I'm able to travel, and really create more memories are some of the reasons that I chose to get vaccinated.”
As a father, husband, and community leader, Joshua expressed how he had a responsibility to his family and his community to get vaccinated. It all started with taking the first step.
“I think leadership is about vision and responsibility. So, to know that I have a responsibility to my community...I think it is our job to truly lead but also with the understanding [that] everyone might not be on board, so that's where that education portion comes in.”
The Decision to Get Vaccinated
By sharing his story about how the pandemic and the vaccine impacted him, his hope is that others will be encouraged to educate themselves and get vaccinated as well.
“To really live through that experience and just say ‘Hey, this was what I experienced, I'm getting it,’ and then really letting them know the reason why I think is super impactful. I think we've for too long (people of color) just...don't trust things that...we don't really know about; and the history has shown us why we shouldn't trust. But I encourage people to really do some self-reflection. Do some educating on their own and just make their own decision."
"I never want to be back in a time where we're unsure...where we don't know...if we're going to be able to survive, if we're going to be able to move forward."
When it came to making the decision to get vaccinated or not, Joshua sought out someone he could connect with and trust.
"For me it was truly finding someone who looked like me in the medical field and really getting their perspective about it."
Hope for the Future
"In 20 plus years, I still believe that I'm going to say I made the right decision. I'm going to still be able to stand by my choice of getting this vaccination.”
Joshua believes that the vaccine not only changed his life but could change the lives of others around him.
"Maybe I saved another person, maybe this vaccination helped me from being able to spread it to someone else.
There was so much tragedy with COVID-19, and families that went through so much. Not being able to be there for their loved ones, not being able to see babies being born; those opportunities were all taken away."
He hopes that by getting vaccinated he is able to give people those opportunities back. For now, Joshua Hunter looks forward to making more memories with his family and connecting with his community.
For more information visit www.healthequitylancaster.org
Read a Spanish version of this article.