Students, staff, community members invited to share photos of loved ones
Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) invites the entire community to join together and pay tribute to those we’ve lost to COVID-19 during its inaugural Lost to COVID Remembrance Day event from 11 a.m. to noon on April 13.
“The coronavirus pandemic has taken some of our loved ones,” EMCC President Dr. Rey Rivera said. “We feel that it is important for us to come together to have a collective Remembrance Day to acknowledge the loss and honor those who have passed away, whether they be a colleague at work or someone in our personal lives.”
Dr. Dori Navarette-Lynch, Residential Counseling Faculty and event co-planner, said events such as this are an important step in helping people move through the grieving and healing process.
“Grieving during the pandemic when social isolation is the norm magnifies the emotions we experience and, in turn, intensifies the feelings associated with isolation,” she said. “While each person has their own ‘way’ to grieve, turning to others for comfort and support is quite commonplace. This event is a way in which individuals can turn to others for physical and emotional support that is so needed during these times to begin our healing, regardless of how we have been impacted by the pandemic and its associated events.”
The Remembrance Day will be held indoors on the second floor of Estella Hall in the North Community Room (EST-NCR S260), 3000 N. Dysart Road, Avondale. It will also be live-streamed. Visit https://www.estrellamountain.edu/about/president/lost-covid-remembrance for more details.
The event will feature a musical selection singer Candice Chavez and Remarkable Presence an immersive art installation and augmented reality (AR) experience by artist Jen Urso featuring small, paper suitcases representing each COVID death in Arizona. The in-person installation is located in the Estrella Hall - South art gallery through Thursday, April 14, 2022. There will also be a digital tribute and anyone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19 is invited to share a photo to be included. Photos can be uploaded by going to https://go.estrellamountain.edu/sp22-lost_to_covid. EMCC is also inviting people to share their personal stories of loss due to the pandemic during the ceremony. If you would like to share your story, please email Dr. Minerva Pargas at minerva.pargas@estrellamountain.edu.
“We are saddened that our collective loss necessitates an event like this,” Dr. Rivera said. “However, we know we are stronger together, and we hope the community will join us on April 13.”