In It Together

Arun Rath speaks with Cicely Carew, the Cambridge artist behind 'Ambrosia,’ a huge hanging art installation in the atrium of the Prudential Center that’s inspired by the concept of healing amid the pandemic.

Facing another Passover in the pandemic, it seemed like a good time to check in with host Arun Rath’s rabbi, Howard Jaffe, of Temple Isaiah in Lexington.

Regular listeners know him well at this point; we first talked on the show last year before our first pandemic Passover.

Arun and Rabbi Jaffe talk about the ongoing virtual worship services, keeping the community together, the prospect of actually gathering again, and zoom holiday burnout.

Host Arun Rath speaks with Ambassador Meron Reuben, he's the new Israeli Consul General for New England. They talk about everything from Passover, to vaccination efforts in Israel, to how his office is providing aid locally during this time.

Arun Rath speaks with Kevin Kopchynski, astronomy educator with the Stars Over Springfield program at the Springfield Museums. He shares how the program is continuing to help people learn about space online.

Restaurant and hospitality workers became eligible for the vaccine this week. In the days leading up to then, restaurants began posting guidance directed at workers and staff on social media. This banning together comes after a tough year for the industry and in the midst of a vaccine rollout that's been less than ideal.

We’ll hear from Bessie King, co-owner of Boston's Villa Mexico Cafe, about the last year and the work her and her co-owner, her mother Julie, have done to protect and support their staff. This includes helping them find and sign up for vaccine appointments.

Arun Rath speaks with Eva Millona, head of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, MIRA, and co-chair of the Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition. Millona shares her thoughts on why vaccination rates among people of color are lagging behind rates for white residents. And she tells us what she wants to hear from Governor Charlie Baker when it comes to vaccine equity ahead of an oversight hearing set for tomorrow.

Thousands of volunteers have signed up to be members of the state's Vaccine Corps, an effort organized through UMass Medical School. Each day, they assist in everything from scheduling, to wellness checks, to actually administering the vaccines. Chancellor of UMass Medical School Dr. Michael Collins explains the work being done by volunteers of every age and background to help get Massachusetts residents vaccinated safely and efficiently.

Arun Rath checks back in with the head of UMass Memorial Healthcare, Dr. Eric Dickson, to get his thoughts on a year of COVID-19.

Arun Rath speaks with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to get her take on vaccine equity, vaccinations for teachers, school reopenings, and the way her job has shifted amid the pandemic.

Last spring, a group of Holy Cross students launched "COVID Chronicles," a project meant to document aspects of the pandemic through selected themes.

With the guidance of two history professors, the twelve students gathered information, oral histories and visual media.

Arun Rath speaks with those two professors, and with three of the students who were involved.