Interview with Geraldo Reyes
InterviewerInterviewed by
Samariya Smith
InterviewerInterviewed by
Abbie Cowan
Date2022 June 16
Mediumborn digital audio file
DimensionsDuration: 53 Minutes, 43 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineCommunity History Project Collection
Object number2022.20.16a-b
Description(a) Interview with Geraldo Reyes. Interviewed by Samariya Smith and Abbie Cowan on June 16, 2022 at Connecticut State Capitol, 210 Capitol Ave, Hartford. (b) Photograph of Geraldo Reyes taken at his interview. He was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Historical Society's Community History Project discussing his experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Geraldo Reyes is a state legislator representing Waterbury, Connecticut. As an extrovert and a people person, lockdown was hard, and he quickly began to resume spending time in the community, talking with people, meeting face to face and visiting what he admits were high risk areas like senior citizen housing and high-rise apartments. He was not great about wearing a mask, which he found uncomfortable, but never caught Covid. He did lose people close to him from Covid, and the family was already reeling from deaths in the family that they were unable to grieve properly, which added to the stress of him and others. He spoke about the chaos that he witnessed as the health department struggled initially and information could be hard to parse as the pandemic became politicized. Reyes was concerned about children, who he felt had lost a great deal in the pandemic, and detailed some of the ways that he saw the disparity gap grow because of the pandemic. He found himself valuing relationships more, but also find a new passion in his work, and a need to battle for what he believes in. Though he’s concerned about disparity and sees this as a major concern, he hopes that future generations will learn from our experiences during this pandemic, just as we looked back on the pandemic of 1918-1920, and be able to handle it better.
NotesSubject Note: The Connecticut Historical Society’s Community History Project (CHP) is a public-facing initiative, focused on contemporary collecting, gathering items of the recent past as well as from events happening today. This program developed community historians to identify, document, and preserve their experiences as residents of Connecticut, and to share these experiences during a series of community presentations. The project focused on the impact of Covid-19 on Connecticans, particularly on Black and Brown communities, funeral homes, and on nursing home and elder care populations.Geraldo Reyes is a state legislator representing Waterbury, Connecticut. As an extrovert and a people person, lockdown was hard, and he quickly began to resume spending time in the community, talking with people, meeting face to face and visiting what he admits were high risk areas like senior citizen housing and high-rise apartments. He was not great about wearing a mask, which he found uncomfortable, but never caught Covid. He did lose people close to him from Covid, and the family was already reeling from deaths in the family that they were unable to grieve properly, which added to the stress of him and others. He spoke about the chaos that he witnessed as the health department struggled initially and information could be hard to parse as the pandemic became politicized. Reyes was concerned about children, who he felt had lost a great deal in the pandemic, and detailed some of the ways that he saw the disparity gap grow because of the pandemic. He found himself valuing relationships more, but also find a new passion in his work, and a need to battle for what he believes in. Though he’s concerned about disparity and sees this as a major concern, he hopes that future generations will learn from our experiences during this pandemic, just as we looked back on the pandemic of 1918-1920, and be able to handle it better.
Cataloging Note: This cataloging project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-249472-OMS-21.
Status
Not on view
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