In It Together

Aaron Schachter fills in for Arun Rath. Local music fans were aghast and angry at the news that beloved Allston venue Great Scott was shutting down. But it looks like it could be getting a second life at a new location. Before Arun left for vacation, he spoke with Great Scott booking agent Carl Lavin, who tells us more.

Early on, Chelsea was in the spotlight as a hotspot for the virus in Massachusetts.

Months into the pandemic, the city is out of the headlines, but residents are still struggling while also preparing for a second wave.

Host Arun Rath speaks with Gladys Vega, Executive Director of the Chelsea Collaborative, about how she and her staff are working to help their community. She says it will be years before the city is economically stable again.

The pandemic has been disruptive for both the election and the 2020 U.S. Census. Arun Rath speaks with Beth Huang, executive director of Massachusetts Voter Table, a non-partisan voter engagement organization based in Boston, about how the group’s efforts have been complicated by the coronavirus crisis.

Host Arun Rath speaks with Diana Viens, a parent and administrator for the Facebook group, “MA Parents Seeking Pods, Teachers, Tutors,” which has over over 6,000 members. The group connects parents and their students with other groups of students, teachers and educators as parents look to supplement whatever learning plan their district is presenting for the new school year.

This past spring, UMass Medical School started bringing students, faculty, and staff back to campus. Today, the campus is nearly fully populated - with restrictions in place, of course. The secret to keeping everyone safe? Constant - and consistent - testing. Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Michael Collins, chancellor of UMass Medical School, about how they've managed the virus.

As a chaplain, Rabbi Karen Landy always felt close with her co-workers - but when the pandemic hit, their shared experiences made them family. Host Arun Rath speaks with her about the last five months and how her work at Hebrew SeniorLife has adapted because of the coronavirus

We continue our series on how the pandemic is hitting our mental health. Arun speaks with Dr. Chris Gill from the BU School of Public Health about the emotional effect the coronavirus crisis has had on doctors and other healthcare workers.

Host Arun Rath speaks with Sarah Gay, of Somerville, who contracted the coronavirus back in the spring. She's since recovered, but has continued to mostly isolate away from the world … until this past weekend. You won't want to miss what she decided to do.

Arun Rath speaks with Watertown’s Lillian Hong, a local organizer for the Lockdown Letters Initiative. The initiative collects thank-you notes for frontline workers of all stripes, from across the country. What started out as a small project has expanded quickly; the organization has now gathered more than 7,000 letters.

Aaron Schachter fills in for Arun Rath and speaks with Bill Bartley, owner of Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage. The Harvard Square institution is up for sale. It's one of the many beloved places that are facing changes amid the coronavirus crisis. Plus, we'll revisit Arun's conversation with “Soup Lady” Marjorie Druker, owner of the New England Soup Factory, about what she's been cooking during the pandemic.