In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Tayler Mugar (00:00): I'm Tayler Mugar, and I'm from West Baltimore. I'm 29 years old and I'm young, black and gifted.

Whitney Frazier (00:14): And over the last few years, Tayler, what's it been like with COVID for you? What's your experience been like?

Tayler Mugar (00:25): COVID has been very interesting, challenging, frustrating, sometimes debilitating, paralyzing, dealing with a lot of fear based when it comes to vaccination conversations on side effects, especially being a health employee and working at a hospital and hearing patients who have had COVID and still have had lingering symptoms that has lasted for three, four, five months, still dealing with brain fog, loss of taste and smell, these symptoms are lingering for months on and that's scary.

Tayler Mugar (01:24): Even side effects in things from the vaccination, which I was hesitant on getting, because I felt like it was pushed out too soon and not a lot of research, I felt like wasn't done. And I have heard like a lot of patients getting a lot of side effects that I wasn't too happy about. It was just very concerning, especially being on the health side of things and actually hearing these stories, because it's different from someone who's not in the hospital and they saying like, "I don't want to give vaccinated, COVID is not real." It's kind of easier for them to say those things because they haven't been in a position where they're speaking to patients who have experienced COVID and things like that.

Whitney Frazier (02:32): Can you describe your role a little. You don't have to give your title and all that, but you're in the hospital in what way? What's your?

Tayler Mugar (02:41): So in the hospital I mostly coordinate with scheduling patients and communicating with doctors. I'm more so in the physical medicine and rehab department. And we actually have a post COVID clinic.

Whitney Frazier (03:07): Is that something people go to in person or they can go online?

Tayler Mugar (03:07): It's mostly tele-med because if you have had COVID, those are mostly tele-med appointments. I think therapy, you were able to come in, but for a physician appointment it was done through tele-med. But I think all of them are done through tele-med now.

Asset ID: 2022.05.13

Find a complete transcription on the Peale's website. Photo of Tayler Mugar by Kirby Griffin.

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Daisy Brown (00:01): Hi, this is Daisy and I just want to share a little bit of. I guess I'd say it was a Covid scare that I had over our Christmas break. And also leading well within the week of the Year's Eve. I was having symptoms of Covid, and I decided to look up. You know what you look for.

Daisy Brown (00:34): And, so they had different things and what symptoms were underneath them. Like there was Covid-19. There was the Omicron, Omicron, I'm on saying it, right. And then there was the flu, and it look like from the list, some of the symptoms that I had was off of everything. So, it was confusing to me. So, nonetheless, I wasn't well enough to go anywhere to do anything. So, I just decided to quarantine myself while I was dealing with this, and I experienced uncontrollable coughing, sneezing.

Daisy Brown (01:19): No energy to do anything except for to get up and walk my dog. Maybe fix myself some tea and then lay that down again, that was about all that I could do.

Daisy Brown (01:39): I would have headaches off and on. My body, I did ache but not painfully, just uncomfortable. So, whatever it was it was like the bare minimum of what others may have experienced. But still another level. I wasn't able to do anything. I am fully vaccinated. So, it may or may not have anything to do with it, but I didn't want to take any chances, so I sanitized everything.

Daisy Brown (02:15) I wiped down everything. Um, Lysol sprayed the house to keep germs away and just did absolutely nothing as far as going outside and just stayed at the house. Yeah, it was . . .

Daisy Brown (02:35): I wasn't afraid, but I just want to make sure that I took care of myself and nurtured myself as this is going on for things. Don't. Get worse. So, this is my first week out of quarantine. I'm feeling much better.

Asset ID: 2022.05.12

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Timon (00:00): My name is Timon, and I am 10 years old.

Speaker 2 (00:03): And what are you on your way to do right now in the car?

Timon (00:06): To do my second vaccine. I feel like it's going to feel the same way as the last one. It made me feel hungry and made my arm sore.

Timon (00:13): Yeah, every single time we get a vaccine you get a lollipop and you get a hand sanitizer at this place.

Speaker 2 (00:19): So it was pretty quick, huh? Do you think that other kids should go get their shots, too?

Timon (00:25): Yes.

Speaker 2 (00:26): Why is that?

Timon (00:28): So they can stay safe away from the virus.

Asset ID: 2022.05.11

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Taco (00:00): I'm Taco. I'm 12 years old this year. We're going to go get my other sibling vaccines. I already had one on Friday, so I have to wait until it sinks into your body, and then you can get another one. They want you to space the vaccines out. They don't want you to all have them together because they don't know what would happen. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (00:21): How did you feel about getting vaccinated?

Taco (00:24): I felt really excited. My arm hurted for a little, and I could not raise my arm or do things any these moves or roll them backwards or anything. It would hurt too much. I had a little headache when I had it. My arm is still a little sore, but I feel better than I did last time.

Taco (00:44): If you do get vaccinated, just be aware that your arm will be sore for a couple of days.

Taco (00:49): ... and then it will get better over the week.

Taco (00:54): For the second shot, you will have that little headache. ... and your arm will be a little more sore, for a little more longer. So, if you guys are planning to take the second shot or first shot, just be aware your arm might be a little sore. Second shot, your head might hurt a little because of the headache of the shot.

Speaker 2 (01:08): Do you think it's worth it?

Taco (01:09): Yeah. If you want to live through this pandemic, you should take the shot.

Asset ID: 2022.05.10

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Lula Rose (00:08): My name is called Lula Rose, and I am eight years old. When you take the vaccine, your arm hurt and you'll feel sick. Because I already got one, my first vaccine.

Speaker 2 (00:14): And what are you on your way to do today?

Lula Rose (00:17): Getting my last vaccine.

Speaker 2 (00:19): How do you feel about that?

Lula Rose (00:20): Little scared because I'm going to feel sick again. My arm's going to hurt much.

Speaker 2 (00:26): Do you want to get your second vaccine?

Lula Rose (00:28): Yes.

Speaker 2 (00:29): Why do you want to get your second vaccine?

Lula Rose (00:30): So, I could go to places again.

Asset ID: 2022.05.09

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories, with the help of collaborating organizations like the Stoop Storytelling Series, from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Tristan Stefanovic (00:00): Hello, everyone. So lovely to be here with you tonight. Let me introduce myself, Tristan Stefanovic, I'm a junior at the Baltimore School for the Arts. And tonight I'm going to be sharing with you the culmination of a several week program that we've worked with a program called Voices on Vax. It's been a lovely opportunity and I'm so proud and happy to share this story with you tonight.

Tristan Stefanovic (00:21): So this story begins sometime back in 2019, the fall of 2019, and at this time I was beginning my time at Baltimore School for the Arts as a freshman. I was quite excited because this is a very unique school. And I've heard a lot of about it because both of my siblings have been there. The reason it's such a unique school is because it's a combination of academics and arts at the same time. My personal art specialization, as you can see behind me, I am a cellist. And so I was very excited to be able to combine my learning in such a way.

Tristan Stefanovic (00:55): So the first few months of school was excellent. It was really great to be able to have academic classes and then sit down, not only learn about music, but playing ensembles with others, whether it be large ensembles with other string instruments or with full orchestra settings or chamber music, which is a smaller group. It's just such a great opportunity to be able to go into school with smile on your face and say, "This is something I really enjoy doing."

Tristan Stefanovic (01:26): Every year at the Baltimore School for the Arts we put on a show called Expressions. You may have heard of it if you're a Baltimore local, where we combine all of the departments together. So there's a theater production, there is music, there is dance, there is all this stuff combined together, it's really fantastic. And so March of 2020, was when my first Expressions was, I was extremely excited to be able to participate for my first time. I was both playing with the string orchestra and also with the band to accompany some of the singers playing several arrangements of some popular songs and it went fantastically. We had shows and our final show was on a Sunday night and it went really well. It was great to come back to school the next morning and say, "We did it. We can stop worrying about this because it was really a great experience."

Tristan Stefanovic (02:16): And I think it was about that Thursday when we were in an orchestra rehearsal that our principal at the time, Dr. [inaudible 00:02:23] walked into the room and took aside our music director and had a word with her. And we didn't know it at the time, but this was the beginning of the end so to speak in the sense that we would not come back to school the next day or the next two weeks or for the next year. And it was at the end of that day that we found out that we should take everything out of our lockers and we probably won't be returning for two weeks. And at the time we think, this is great. We just finished our big show. We get two weeks off, excellent. No problem. I can deal with this. I can go relax. I can do whatever I want.

Asset ID: 2022.05.08

Find a complete transcript on the Peale's website.

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories, with the help of collaborating organizations like the Stoop Storytelling Series, from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Aissata Sy (00:00): When the pandemic started last year in 2020, I was 16 years old and I was going to school. Then one day they told us that we were just going to go into quarantine and we wouldn't be in school for a period of amount of time. And that time went on and on and on until we hit lockdown. And during that time, around that time, I felt very paranoid to go outside and do basically anything I used to do, because I was just scared of the possibility of getting COVID. So I wouldn't go out as much. I had to wear the mask, which were very uncomfortable at time. And it made it very hard to breathe also at times.

Aissata Sy (00:51): Then when the pandemic was developed around later that year, I thought that it was made pretty quickly. And because of the misinformation going on in social media, like when they were saying that the vaccine could turn you into like an animal, like it could do something to your body that is just like... It shouldn't happen in your body. They're just saying a lot of things that I thought were true because I didn't know any better, I guess, and I didn't do my own research and things like that. And I just believed because it was my main source of information and news. So that information got to my head. And also I just started learning more and more about like the history of America and the history of them testing vaccines on black people and other people of color. And that fact also was like a scary fact because I was just thinking about... It made me very uncomfortable to even think about getting the vaccine.

Aissata Sy (02:08): And I just thought like, oh, I don't really trust this vaccine. I just was like, I don't know if I really want to get this. I just thought like vaccines usually take about five years to be created. And this one did not take anywhere near five years. So I was very unsure about it. But later on, as time went on and more and more information came in about the vaccine, I started to learn more about it. And my parents who had the same concerns basically that I had and other people in my family that I know and my friends, they had those same concerns, but they chose to do their own research and go get the vaccine because they believed that it was the best decision for them. And they told me that after they got their vaccine, they felt pretty normal. Like it was any other vaccine that they've ever gotten.

Aissata Sy (03:03): So after I got that information, I chose to do my own research. And through my own research, I learned a lot and I just felt more comfortable getting the vaccine because so many people around me were telling me that they had a positive experience to the vaccine and they had done their research and they just felt pretty comfortable getting it. So I did my own and I went to get it. And as I went to get it, the anticipation and just the anxiety of going to get that vaccine made me so nervous that I thought it was just those thoughts were still in the back of my mind. So when I actually went and got it, it was pretty easy. I felt like it was any other vaccine I've ever gotten.

Asset ID: 2022.05.07

Find a complete transcript on the Peale's website.

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories, with the help of collaborating organizations like the Stoop Storytelling Series, from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Aissata Sy (00:00): Hello, everybody. My name is Aissata Sy and I'm a student, a senior, at Bard High School Early College. And just like Shoshana, I'm going to be sharing my story on the vaccine.

Aissata Sy (00:11): Around 2020, like midyear, we got out of school because we heard about the COVID virus going around. During that time I felt like, oh, look, we're getting out of school. It's time for us to rest just like an early break. And then things started out to stretch out and then the virus got more and more and more crazy and was just kind of scary. And then I always had anxiety and self-conscious of going outside there. Like the thought of the possibility of getting infected and your family and friends, and the possibility of having one of your loved ones die because of it.

Aissata Sy (00:53): So fasting forward to when the vaccine was developed. During that time it was just a lot of information. I would say a lot of misinformation on the internet and social media, which was my main source for news in a way. So I just started reading a whole bunch of things and I guess getting my news from social media. They were just saying a lot of during that time, like the vaccine will turn you into an animal or you don't know what would happen during the long run. Like why should you get it now kind of thing.

Aissata Sy (01:33): So, I had my own hesitancy in getting the vaccine because it was a scary thing during that time because it was just the thought that oh, this vaccine was produced so quickly and usually vaccines takes about five years to get created. And this concern was for not just me, but also my parents and my family. But as time went on, I decided to take matters into my own hands and do my own research because I thought that this vaccine could be the possibility for me to have and for all of us to have some kind of normalcy back in our lives. Doing my own research and educating myself on it was probably the best thing I could have done for myself and my family.

Aissata Sy (02:22): So, I got the vaccine and I got it at Mega Mart, which is like a food store. So like a grocery store. So I went and the anxiety just leading up to getting the vaccine was worse to actually getting the vaccine. It was just like a little pinch that I got on my shoulder, and it felt like any other vaccine I've gotten. But since the whole situation going around, with everything going around and just like people being scared that I think made the anxiety and everything else in the back of my head saying like, "Oh my god, what if does something does happen to me?"

Aissata Sy (03:02): But, I got the vaccine and I realized that this vaccine is the opportunity for us to really get normalcy back into our lives and just put a stop to this virus, which has really taken a lot of lives. With the new variants going around, going on and just getting ourselves vaccinated is the best way to keep everyone safe.

Asset ID: 2022.05.06

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Peale or the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

This digital story recording was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and its Stories from Main Street student documentary initiative, called "Stories: Yes." The project encourages students and their mentors to research and record stories about small-towns and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, as well as thoughts about American democracy. These documentaries are then shared on Smithsonian websites and social media.

Students at Elkton High School in Cecil County, Maryland, worked with the Cecil County Arts Council, the Cecil County Historical Society, and the Cecil County Public Library, Maryland, to produce this series of oral histories with area residents about everything from local businesses to the history of segregation, as told by Charles Givens (pictured).

Speaker 1 (00:06): How are you, Dr. Devine?

Dr. D’Ette Devine (00:06): Doing very well. Thank you.

Speaker 1 (00:09): Good. I have a couple questions for you here. So just answer them to the best of your knowledge. I'm assured that you already read over most of these.

Dr. D’Ette Devine (00:15): I did.

Speaker 1 (00:15): Okay. So what has your experience been like with the Williams Chevrolet business? Which is your brother's business, your family's business to my knowledge.

Dr. D’Ette Devine (00:24): Basically, it is as a family business. As a child, I grew up with my father beginning his own business, and that has developed into the Williams Family Auto Mall today. It actually began in 1947 with my uncle, Frank Williams, who began Williams Motors. And then my dad opened Anchor Pontiac and Buick in 1962. After that Williams Chevrolet came along, he acquired that as well as Bayshore Auto. There were three sort of what you'd call mom and pop car dealerships in the town of Elkton. And then my brothers and my first cousin, that would be Frank, Tom, David, and Barry, moved the dealership, consolidated the business and moved it out to Route 40. I think it's been 10 years or 12 years that it's been on Route 40. So now it's Anchor Buick because Pontiac is no longer made. Williams Chevrolet and the Williams Used Car. And they all sit on the same property.

Speaker 1 (01:30): Question number two, have any significance in the past that you would know of, you know, your family business, how has it affected your business?

Dr. D’Ette Devine (01:37): Well, obviously the economy is very important and the sale of American-made automobiles. And when the economy did a downturn, obviously there was concern about that, when General Motors was in such difficulty, but they weathered that storm. And part of the reason is the economy of scale, bringing all the businesses together in one location, was very, very wise and to the family's advantage.

Speaker 1 (02:02): How has the family business, like, as you were saying about how it consolidated into one company, moving to Route 40, how has it like built to fit the community of Elkton? Because like you said, it's been around here for like ever.

Dr. D’Ette Devine (02:13): Right, well, although they became what would be a much larger enterprise, the family has a slogan, the Williams Way, and the Williams Way means that you treat your customers fairly, with respect, obviously you make your income from that, but you do so as a responsible member of the community. And my entire family has given back to the community. My dad was active in little league for many, many years and all of the family is involved in different community events and charities.

Asset ID: 2022.21.01

Find a complete transcript: www.museumonmainstreet.org

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations awarded the Peale (Baltimore, Maryland) a Communities for Immunity grant. The goal of the project is for trusted, local institutions to engage their communities in order to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Since being awarded the grant, we've been gathering stories from people about their experiences with COVID and getting the vaccine.

Jay’Quan (00:01): How you doing? My name's Jay’Quan Washington, and I'm a AAA apprentice. And today we going to talk a little bit about COVID, and my experience with COVID. So, COVID actually was tough for me, because when COVID started, I was ending my junior year in high school, and I basically feel like I got robbed for my last year, because we ain't really go to school that much. We was on virtual.

Jay’Quan (00:24): I mean, it was tough, especially for me, kids like me and my friends, because I don't got a long attention span. So, if it's something else, I feel like that's not, I wouldn't say better, but if I feel as though something that's more worth my time is needed, I'm going, you feel me? Any other kid that's... you feel me? Especially if your people's working, or your people's not around to be on you.

Jay’Quan (00:43): So, one of my teachers gave me a computer, so I actually was blessed to have my own access to my own computer.

Jay’Quan (00:49): I had a COVID scare for real, feel me? I'm already fully vaccinated, but I had a little scare, like it was one day, but that was when I really known what it came from. But it still scared me, because this is when it's a new COVID strain coming out, so I thought it was . . . I was cold, for real, I just had the chills or whatever. I just kept shaking. I was just so cold, and I remember I ain't really eat that day, for real. I don't know, my stomach was funny feeling, I was just messed up, for real. But long story short, after that, I went to go get tested for real, thought I had it, I was so scared. That was during the holiday time, so people were just out doing anything. For the holiday, I was masked up more than I could say any of the pandemic, which I probably should have been either way, but that scared me, because I thought I really had that shit.

Daisy Brown (01:43): So, you really wanted to play it safe, for sure? What was your experience like getting the vaccination shot, like where did you go first?

Jay’Quan (01:50): So, first I got Pfizer. I got Pfizer, I got two shots there. I went to Walmart, got my stuff out of Towson. First shot, I was real sore. My arm was a little sore, I ain't going to lie, my arm was sore, but I'm like that with all shots and stuff, bro.

Daisy Brown (02:07): And you are not a fan of needles, like me?

Jay’Quan (02:08): No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not scared of needles, I actually, I'm not going to say I prefer, but I'd rather get a needle.

Daisy Brown (02:15): You can deal with it.

Jay’Quan (02:16): Yeah. I can deal with it.

Interviewer (02:19): It’s ain’t fun, but you can deal with it. So was anybody with you? How were they acting?

Jay’Quan (02:25): So, the first time, it was a little story for the first time I got my shot, it was me and my mentor and one of my coworkers. We was out there getting a shot, and my mentor thought it'd be funny for him to scream, because he was getting him a booster shot at the time, he thought he was going to make us nervous by screaming. It was kind of funny though, because it was other people there that he startled.

Daisy Brown (02:46): And what about the person that gave you the shot? Were they trying to hurry and get you out and over? Were they taking their time? Was they making sure you was cool?

Asset ID: 2022.05.05