Here and Now: Life in the Pandemic

A Research Study by Colorado State University Anthropology Students

HERE AND NOW LIFE IN A PANDEMIC How challenges vary by livelihood in Fort Collins

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How Challenges Vary

by Livelihood in Fort Collins

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Table of Contents 1. ICU Nurses.................................................................8 2. Long-Term Care Nurses.........................................12 3. Elementary School Teachers..................................16 4. High School Teachers.............................................20 5. Food Bank Staff.......................................................24 6. Housing/Rental Assistance Providers...................28 7. Grocery Workers.....................................................32 8. Student Workers......................................................36 9. Musicians..................................................................40 10. Theatre Professionals............................................44 11. Retail Shop Owners..............................................48 12. Restaurant Owners/Managers.............................52

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COVID-19 Impacts by Type of Livelihood This study is one of the first to examine how a person’s livelihood may impact their experience of the pandemic.

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ICU NURSES Nurses on the medical frontlines of COVID-19 have heroically met fierce challenges while risking their own mental health.

LONG-TERM CARE NURSES Nurses provide vital care for our most vulnerable; the pandemic has added unthinkable physical and mental stress to the equation of care.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS Few K-6 teachers liked teaching online, but most reported becoming closer to students as they learned more about their struggles.

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS High school teachers have adapted to intense new demands, encouraged classroom empathy, and endured the mental health impacts of their work.

FOOD BANK STAFF The Food Bank for Larimer County has adapted in creative ways to meet the needs of more clients than ever while protecting everyone’s safety.

HOUSING AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS Increased funding after COVID-19 and efficient online meetings have allowed housing providers to reach the growing number of people in need.

GROCERY WORKERS Essential workers are frontline employees at a time when sacrifice for the community they serve is at an all-time high.

STUDENT WORKERS Student workers have always had to balance academics, work, and personal life, but during the pandemic, greater workloads have taken a toll.

MUSICIANS Local musicians have persevered through depressing times, continuing to create new music inspired by the nationwide social issues of 2020.

THEATRE PROFESSIONALS Theatre artists have had to take a break from their dreams to make room for the dangers and difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RETAIL SHOP OWNERS Despite facing major challenges during COVID-19, local retailers have felt supported by customers and remain positive for the future.

RESTAURANT OWNERS/MANAGERS Restaurant owners and managers have adapted to serve a world with new protocols amid supply chain disruptions and fresh demands on work hours.

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How Challenges Vary

by Livelihood in Fort Collins THE COVID-19 LIFE IN A PANDEMIC RESEARCH PROJECT AND METHODOLOGY: In Spring 2021, Colorado State University undergraduate anthropology students enrolled in the Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology class undertook a collective study of the impacts of COVID-19 on Fort Collins residents in different livelihoods. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to examine how one’s livelihood may impact their experience of the pandemic.

In preparation for our research, we submitted our research plan and got approved by the Institutional Review Board at CSU. Each student also took Human Subjects training and was certified by the university to conduct this research. The research was organized in three phases. After selecting their livelihood focus for the term, students began with Phase 1: researching the literature about their group. What challenges did teachers, nurses, or restaurant owners deal with before the pandemic? How did those challenges change during the pandemic? How have musicians, grocery workers, food bank employees, and those in other livelihoods,

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adapted and what was the impact of those changes?

Library research from Phase 1 gave students a foundation for understanding what we know about 12 livelihoods.

Phase 2 engaged students in conducting interviews with someone from their respective livelihood. Questions for these semi-structured interviews drew from their Phase 1 findings in the literature and allowed students to deepen their knowledge through someone’s lived experience. In Phase 3, students used the insights from their interviews and literature research to create survey questions that were then distributed to a wider circle of people in the line of work they were studying. Students collected survey responses from 275 people across the 12 livelihoods in Fort Collins.

We invite you to turn the pages to see what students learned about the pandemic’s impact on people in 12 different livelihoods in Fort Collins, Colorado.

TWO OVERARCHING PATTERNS EMERGED ACROSS OUR STUDIES OF 12 LIVELIHOODS: 1. MENTAL HEALTH. COVID-19 has been hard on everyone’s mental health. In our research, this impact was most notable among nurses, teachers, student workers, and musicians, but for different reasons.

Among the livelihoods, there is a spectrum related to workload and overload. Nurses and teachers, for example, are required to perform critical work involving demanding and high-stakes human interaction. Less obviously, student workers are also already at the edge of managing their responsibilities--to their studies, their work commitments, and their personal lives. For people whose demands are already at the limit, the pandemic caused a surge of added expectations that left many without the capacity to process the overload.

Performing artists like musicians fall at the other end of the spectrum. They were not asked to do more, but made to give up the stimulation and satisfaction of performing their art. Because many musicians work solo or in small groups and often travel for gigs, many had no outlets and consequently, suffered significant mental health decline for entirely different reasons than those noted above who suffered from overstimulation. It is worth noting that performing artists in local theatre experienced much less isolation than musicians because of the supportive, place-based community they already belonged to. Their efforts to keep theatre alive and stay connected to each other through increased use of social media also tapped into an established pipeline for donations that provided increased financial support during the pandemic.

2. EMPATHY AND CONNECTEDNESS. A second pattern that showed up across many livelihoods involved people reporting new forms of empathy and connectedness. In a very real sense, this pattern could be considered a positive note in a time filled with hardship and sorrow. Grocery workers got thrust into roles as “essential workers” and, in the process, felt a greater sense of awareness for and connection to the community they serve. Service providers for low-income families such as staff at the Food Bank for Larimer County and those who work with Housing and Rental Assistance experienced a ballooning need for their services during the pandemic. Meeting overwhelming needs required summoning both empathy and care to organize and adapt. Elementary school teachers reported a greater sense of concern for and closeness to their students and high school teachers talked about their conscious work to create more empathetic classrooms. Musicians indicated they were moved by the 2020 protests and Black Lives Matter movement, and they brought these ideas into their creative work. And, retail shop owners in downtown Fort Collins reported feeling more connected to their customers and grateful for their loyalty.

To ask a question, feel free to contact Dr. Kate Browne at kate.browne@colostate.edu.

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Claire Taagen

Intensive Care Unit Nurses In Fort Collins, Colorado, During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse cares for critically ill, unstable patients experiencing life threatening diseases, surgeries, or profound injuries. This semester in ANTH 441: Methods in Cultural Anthropology, we had an opportunity as undergrads to conduct ethnographic research on a livelihood group of our choice about the challenges they have experienced during the pandemic. My livelihood group was ICU Nurses. The environment an ICU Nurse works in is high pressure and intensity, often requiring the completion of multiple tasks at once. Some of their tasks include preparing medications and IVs, cleaning rooms and equipment, interacting with patients and family, sample testing, and attending meetings with administration. A typical week for an ICU Nurse is three, 12-hour shifts. Prior to the pandemic, the heavy workload of ICU Nurses already resulted in higher rates of burnout, insomnia, and suicide.

During the semester, we conducted three phases of research: library research, personal interviews, and original surveys. Beginning with the research paper, I investigated mental health challenges ICU Nurses experience and how that has changed during the pandemic. From my library research, I developed my interview questions. I was able to interview a local Fort Collins ICU Nurse named Kelly. After transcribing my interview, Kelly’s responses helped me formulate questions for my survey that would get distributed to a larger pool of nurses who work in similar environments as Kelly. Some of my survey questions also came from important concepts raised in my literature research. In my survey findings, I discovered nurses on the medical frontlines of COVID-19 have adapted to fierce challenges that have made significant impacts on their mental health. For more details about my research on ICU Nurses experience during the pandemic I invite you to read on.

Selected Findings and Connections Across Research Methodologies

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From my research paper I found that pre- COVID burnout rates have increased during the pandemic because of less fulfillment from work, an inability to connect with patients, a lack of supplies, depression, insomnia, and suicide. COVID era nurses have experienced higher health risks like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for example because going to the bathroom with their extra gear was more challenging.

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Other findings from my research paper include a shortage of supplies and unequal distribution of supplies between nurses and doctors.

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From my interview I found that during the pandemic, nurses were working longer hours with no overtime. Proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) did not come until November. Nurses adapted their communication techniques (ex: use of baby monitors in rooms). Ironically, once a patient with COVID-19 was on a ventilator it was easier to plan a workload for the day.

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More findings from my interview include a concern about keeping patients alive in return for a poorer quality of life. Often patients were unable to make decisions for themselves and nurses had to ask family what they wanted; but it was hard to know if the patient really wanted what the family asked for. Thus, nurses then gave patients options while they could still communicate in case something were to happen that cut off communication entirely. For example, if a patient wanted to be on life support or fed through a feeding tube, that was noted in advance.

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Some other findings from my interview were the welcome discovery of reusable gowns and masks that saved on waste. The vaccine has given a greater sense of hope.

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Other findings from my survey (comments and open-ended questions): I found nurses were fearful over the unfamiliarity of the virus, loss of connection with patients, and found resiliency with community outreach and teamwork.

From my survey I found that every month for the past year has been the most difficult for nurses.

Q - My line of work was hardest hit by COVID during

100% of the respondents considered their mental health to be excellent, good, or average.

Q- Prior to the pandemic, I considered my mental health to be Quality of mental health

From my survey I found that nurse’s burnout and mental health risks have increased since the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic nurses felt they had good/average mental health but that has significantly changed since COVID.

# of respondents

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Quality of mental health

Q - During the pandemic, I would consider my mental health to be

50% of the respondents felt their mental health has been poor since the pandemic.

# of respondents

Conclusion In conclusion, I think that the increased trials of ICU nurses during the pandemic have affected their daily lives and resulted in significant mental health challenges. In my interview and survey, I learned how the patient/nurse connection weighs heavily when nurses become emotionally connected to patients who are unstable. Each phase of research presented similarities in the mental health impacts that ICU Nurses have faced during the pandemic. My interview and survey questions dove deeper about these increased mental health risks.

I am worried about what the current impacts on ICU Nurses will look like in the future. Will they be able to recover from the trauma and burnout they are facing now? Will there be fewer nurses in the future?

How can we better our health infrastructure so ICU Nurses and other frontline workers do not have to face such imposing challenges on their wellbeing? Finally, it is important for society to recognize the burnout and mental health impacts nurses are still experiencing (most have not had a break this whole year) and be grateful to have these individuals on the frontlines risking their lives to save others.

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Andrew Jedlicka

Long-term Care Nurses in Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Long-term care nurses specialize in working with our elderly population. Their livelihood helps maintain a high quality of mental and physical health care for patients and their families. As patients’ health concerns grow with age, long-term care facilities and their staff provide crucial assistance with things like taking prescription medications, physical exercise, mental stimulation, etc. Working within this field has unique challenges nurses must face, such as long work hours with low pay, high amounts of physical and mental stress, high turnover, burnout rates, and things out of their control like the quality of patient’s death.

The information for this report came in three phases: Library research on the subject, interviews with individuals within this profession, and information provided by participants in a survey about their livelihoods and the effects COVID-19 has had on them. Nurses perform difficult work to care for our most vulnerable. The pandemic has greatly intensified their physical and mental stress.

The following points are vital issues that have been highlighted by one or more of the phases in the research.

Staffing concerns within the long-term care facility system were a key issue highlighted by all three phases of research. It is crucial in any institution to have the correct number of staff to handle any situation. When asked about their livelihood challenges, six participants survey conveyed issues relating to staffing, as shown in the graph below. During the pandemic, isolation of the patients was the number one challenge faced by long-term care providers, with changes to the procedures getting seven responses.

The following graph shows changes many in the long-term care profession plan on making in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey showed that 35% of those surveyed expressed the desire to “Change professions altogether” or “Retire.”

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The demands of Covid-19 have caused me to want to change my professional goals by

The two graphs above also correlate with data that suggest issues such as staffing are affecting turnover rates. Turnover rates were another critical factor found in all three phases of research. High turnover rates can have many impacts on other areas of this profession. For instance, high turnover rates leave a gap in skilled workers at the facility, putting more work on already overworked staff. Turnover puts mounting pressure on things like mental health, physical health, and burnout rates.

COVID-19 has impacted me in the following ways (select all that apply)

Mental Health Physical Health Burnout Working long hours No change Other, Please specify 0

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The biggest takeaway from the research was the effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of long-term caregivers.

Initial investigation showed that mental health in the profession before COVID was lower than what our survey indicated. 52% of those surveyed said that their mental health before COVID was “Good,” and in total, 95% of surveyed expressed “Average to Excellent” mental health. Compared to a 42% swing after the pandemic towards “Poor” or “On the Brink.” These different results may be due to society’s reflection on the situation compared to a preCOVID world.

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Prior to the pandemic, I considered my mental health to be

During the pandemic, I would consider my mental health to be

4.76%

14.29%

4.76%

19.05 %

14.29%

23.81%

38.10%%

28.57%

52.38

Excellent

Good

Average

Poor

On the brink

“I love what I do. I adore what I do, I will sit in the parking lot. And I'm I'm also not a dramatic person, I will sit in the parking lot and cry before going into work. Because you just don't know. You don't know what's going to happen.”

---Annika Kamberelis, Physician Assistant, Poudre Valley Hospital, Interview via Zoom.

Conclusion The long-term care profession is a challenging job that requires highly skilled and dedicated people to create the best quality of care for the elderly population. Due to several factors like pay, work hours, physical and mental stress, the individuals within long-term care nursing were already under enormous amounts of stress. The added pressures of a global pandemic have only aggravated an already tenuous profession. A few things that could help alleviate some of the mounting tensions are making sure each shift is adequately staffed with the correct number of staff. This will take some of the mental and physical stress off each member of the team. Reevaluating and raising the pay for nurses would help foster the appreciation many in the nursing industry feel is lacking. Another critical aspect to helping maintain a wellrounded nursing staff would be more accessible access to trained mental health experts to help individuals work through the hardships of COVID-19.

References Consulted Guerrini, Christi J. et al. 2020. “Essential, not peripheral: Addressing health care workers’ mental health concerns during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Journal of Occupational Health. 2020; 62: e12169 https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12169 Havaei, Farinaz et al. 2021. “Nurses’ Workplace Conditions Impacting Their Mental Health during COVID-19: A CrossSectional Survey Study.” Healthcare. 2021 (9:84) p.1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010084 Kalert, Lynn. Personal Interview. 26 February 2021.

Kamberelis, Annika. Interview. 20 January 2021.

Lief, Lindsay et al. 2018. “Dying Patient and Family Contributions to Nurse Distress in the ICU.” Annuals ATS Vol. 15 (12) p 1459-1464.

Popa, Florian et al. “Occupational burnout levels in emergency medicine- a nationwide study and analysis.” Journal of Medicine and Life Vol.3, 3 (2010) p.207-215.

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Berit Doolittle

Elementary School Teachers In Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction

The profession of elementary school educators is found and recognized on a global level. Societally speaking, they play a crucial role in the development of future generations and impressionable children in helping them become educated, functioning members of our society. Despite this crucial societal role, elementary school educators, especially in the US, are not the most appreciated individuals, nor are they recognized for all the hard work they do in their job. From being underpaid, going on strike, having concerns about overall technological innovation affecting classroom environments, to working in underfunded schools causing them not to be able to provide the best resources for their students, elementary school teachers face a plethora of hardships.

For the methods in cultural anthropology course, I did my research on the pandemic’s effects on elementary school teachers in the Fort Collins area. For Phase 1 of the project, I compiled a library research paper with information gathered from scholarly sources. This paper covered issues that elementary school teachers have faced before and during the pandemic. Phase 2 of the project required me to conduct an interview with a local teacher. I interviewed a fourth-grade teacher at an elementary school in Fort Collins. She was an excellent participant and gave me a clear view into the pandemic’s effects on her workplace. Phase 3 involved a survey. My survey questions were short, direct and allowed participants to select a range of answers. A total of 20 teachers in lower grades participated in the survey. Going through these separate research steps throughout the course of the semester was helpful in getting a full glimpse into how COVID has affected people in a variety of livelilhoods.

Overall findings • • •

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Whether there’s a global pandemic occurring or not, educators experience a plethora of difficulties in their profession. (Library research paper) Issues they have always experienced include working long hours with low pay. The coronavirus pandemic has extended their hours. (Library research paper) Prior to the pandemic, studies established that virtualization of elementary school classrooms is not the way of the future. Young children need an in-person adult figure guiding them through their education. (Library research paper) Schools, much like the rest of the country, were not prepared for the lockdown last year nor the forced virtualization of classrooms. (Interview) Not all students had the technological resources to attend class online, causing them to fall behind. (Interview) Not all of my interviewee’s students had present parents involved with their student’s schooling.

Every classroom has half of its students excelling or on par with the course load. The other half of students have struggled to stay on par. the pandemic and the virtualization further increased a gap between stronger and weaker students. (Interview) Elementary school aged students do not have the motivation, the concept for making priorities, nor the understanding of educational importance. These realities make the online format very difficult for them. (Interview)

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Going online changed the profession from being a teacher to being an “instructor,” a person who gives instructions. My interviewee’s point was that being a teacher encompasses all aspects in being in classroom: teaching, connecting, interacting. To her, being an instructor just meant strictly delivering the content and not immersing students in the other desired classroom experiences. (Interview) Teachers do not appreciate having to teach their students in online settings. See graph below.

(Survey)

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Despite the limitations of virtual teaching, teachers felt closer to their students as a result of the pandemic’s effects. See graph below. (Survey)

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There has been a drastic increase in teachers’ concerns about their young students’ mental wellbeings, home lives, and overall learning loss. See graphs listed in this same order. (Survey)

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Conclusion This project offered a systematic way of understanding the hardships that others have faced within their professions while the pandemic rages across the globe. Being on the spectrum, I struggle with the concept of “walking in another person’s shoes,” and this project helped me do that in a variety of ways.

From the library research portion, I learned that no matter the situation in the world, teachers have a difficult and underappreciated profession. For the interview, I discovered that personally talking to an individual from this walk of life was the most helpful and influential in getting the information I needed most. As for the survey, I learned that teaching online is not a preferred format and now there are new and increased concerns about their student’s overall well-beings. The methods class in cultural anthropology and the research we did for our project has contributed to my in-depth and well-rounded education here at CSU.

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Olivia Heifetz

High School Teachers In Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction High school teachers fill an invaluable role in our society as they educate and prepare the nation’s young adults for college and the global workforce beyond. Teachers have always been some of the most resilient and adaptable individuals in our society, as they must cater to each individual student and their unique needs. Often, high school teachers fill many roles for their students including coaches, friends, facilitators, mentors, and advocates. High school teachers are frequently underpaid and overworked while their jobs are made even more difficult by chronically underfunded school districts that lack proper technology and materials like books and art supplies My research involved three phases, starting with library research to familiarize myself with the role of high school teachers and the struggles they faced in their profession before, and since, the pandemic. In Phase Two, I performed a semi-structured interview with a local Fort Collins high school math teacher to assess how they felt the pandemic had impacted their life, students, and relationships with peers. In Phase Three, I used information from my library research and interview to formulate a survey that was sent out to a number of local high school teachers. I received 18 completed responses. The survey asked the teachers several questions on how the pandemic had impacted their course difficulty, mental health, and classroom empathy. My research shows that high school teachers have adapted to intense new demands, encouraged classroom empathy, and felt the cost of mental health impacts in their work since the start of the pandemic. Please read on for more information on the findings of this research:

Selected Findings and Connections Across Research Methodologies • •

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High school teachers of Fort Collins have seen a significant decline in their mental health since the onset of the pandemic.

My library research showed that some high school teachers have struggled with mental health issues long before COVID; however, my interview and survey research indicate that teachers’ mental health suffered dramatic losses since the onset of the pandemic.

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This decline may be due to several possible factors, including isolation from friends and peers, as well as increased workload with insufficient emotional or financial compensation.

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By looking at the facing result and the one below it, it appears that the pandemic has provided an opportunity for more empathy in high school classrooms.

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Among survey respondents, the proportion of teachers who have shared their mental health struggles with their classes has doubled since the pandemic. This finding suggests a way that teachers have been able to promote empathy.

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Although sharing struggles with one’s class is not a universally approved strategy, more than a fourth of local high school teachers surveyed here plan to do so with classes in the future.

Another third would consider it, a dramatic shift from reported patterns before the pandemic.

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This emphasis on empathy is not unexpected during a time when students and teachers are dealing with many of the same issues regarding isolation and stress from the pandemic.

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Conclusion High school teachers of Fort Collins have seen a significant decline in their mental health since the onset of the pandemic. This decline may be from increased workload with little to no financial or emotional payoff, isolation from students and friends, or from vast uncertainty about the future. Despite these setbacks, high school teachers have proven to be ever adaptable. Many teachers are now using the pandemic as an opportunity to create a class culture of empathy where teachers share their struggles with their students. This report leaves several opportunities for future research, including long-term effects of the pandemic on high school teachers’ mental health and the impact of increased classroom empathy on student-teacher interactions.

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Brooke McConnell

Food Bank for Larimer County in Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction The Fort Collins, Colorado community has been visibly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Our community represents real experiences that have affected people across the United States since March 2020. There are endless stories to account for the loss we have all endured during this pandemic. In addition to loss, many of us have come to adapt, overcome, and distill hope throughout the pandemic.

The Covid-19 livelihood study, conducted by CSU anthropology students and guided by Dr. Browne, has sought to capture, and understand the impacts of Covid-19 on the Fort Collins, Colorado community.

During this study, I was able to work with the Food Bank for Larimer County, a low-income organization seeking to fight food insecurity. The information which follows attempts to show a small picture of the lived experiences and trials brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic through the eyes of The Food Bank for Larimer County, one of 200 Feeding America sponsored food banks in the United States.

During this study, I performed three phases of research. In the first phase, I conducted library research which provided me with background information on food banks across the nation before and after the pandemic began. For the second phase of research, I conducted a semi-formal interview with Franz Quinones, a food bank employee. This interview was supplemented by a class interview done with Paul Donnelly, the food bank communications director. The third phase involved creating and distributing a survey based on insights from the first two phases. This survey captured data from 11 participants who are Food Bank employees. Each phase of research added more information to my understanding and enabled me to gain useful insight about the Food Bank for Larimer County’s adaptations and experiences throughout the pandemic.

Selected Findings and Connections Across Research Methodologies The Food Bank for Larimer County, or FBLC, was first established in 1983 by Sandy Bowden, a conscientious community member who was motivated to ease food insecurity in Larimer County (FBLC,2021). In its earlier years of operation, the food bank distributed roughly 57,000 pounds of food; in recent years this number has gone up to 9 million pounds of food (FBLC, 2021). In an interview conducted by our class, Paul Donnelly updated this number to around 10.5 million pounds of food distributed in Larimer County alone (Donnelly, 2021). These numbers indicate a growing need for accessible food to low-income individuals and families in Larimer County, but also demonstrate the food bank’s commitment to fighting food insecurity in their community.

This need could not be fulfilled by employees alone, rather it takes a community of volunteers, doners, and partnerships to fuel distribution efforts and access food resources. Much of these resources, donations, and partnerships are locally sourced through places like Spoons, King Soopers, and of course, community members, while others come from the larger Feeding America food distribution system, also known as the choice system (Donnelly, 2021). That being said, obtaining food for distribution is only half

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the battle. Volunteers are a crucial part of the food bank team, as they donate their time to sorting, delivering, handling, packaging, and organizing foods that will be distributed to the community. Paul commented that volunteers currently donate between 40,000 to 45,000 hours to the food bank cumulatively per year (Donnelly, 2021). On its own, this number is astounding. Special consideration must be given to the food bank since the start of the pandemic as they have boldly adapted to continue serving Larimer County.

During the early months of the pandemic, one article featured in the Colorado Sun noted that the loss of volunteers would result in the potential closure of 700 “The food bank relies heavily on food pantries along the front range (2020). The food bank worked tirelessly to adapt: changing operating volunteers. They donate about 40 to 45 thousand hours annually.” hours, imagining a productive and accessible drive thru food system, maintaining walk-in client needs, Paul Donnelly, 2021 interview enforcing CDC guidelines, creating new ways to serve Food Bank for Larimer County high risk community members, and at some points adjusting methods to acquire food during shortages (Donnelly, 2021). Franz Quinones, a food bank employee, noted that early on, many volunteers had to stop donating their time because they fell into the Covid-19 high risk category (Quinones, 2021). Franz explained that a great deal of work went into creating circumstances that volunteers would feel comfortable returning to.

First and foremost, CDC guidelines became the guiding principles for operating the Food Bank for Larimer County. This means wearing a mask, tracking temperature and symptoms, wearing gloves, and social distancing (Quinones, 2021). The survey conducted with eleven Food Bank for Larimer County employees, revealed that these adaptations have offered a safe and effective way to keep volunteers safe, fulfill community needs, and keep employees safe, as shown in image 1 below.

81% of food bank employees felt passionate about the adaptations made to follow CDC guidelines in order keep volunteers safe.

90% felt that these adaptations were helping the food bank to continue fulfilling community needs.

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Image 2 shows employee perceptions of community awareness during the pandemic. In the country at large, employee perceptions of food insecurity awareness reflect recent media trends which have highlighted food banks and unemployment. The data also show that 45% of employees feel the community is only somewhat more aware of food insecurity in Larimer County. More research on this topic could reveal why employees perceive their community as being less aware of local food insecurity but more aware of food insecurity nationally.

100% of employees agree the pandemic has increased awareness of food insecurity in the country at large. Even 80% of employees strongly felt that the community became more aware of the need to support the food bank because of the pandemic.

Conclusion The Food Bank for Larimer County has been diligent in reaching their goals, expanding community outreach, and protecting their community during the pandemic. Volunteers are crucial to food distribution processes and their donated time is heavily valued. The adaptations which have been made to the distribution system have been flexible but also firm to maintain safety standards. The Covid-19 pandemic has furthered national food insecurity, but Feeding America estimates that our communities will recover from the increased need over time (2021). As a community we can depend on and support the hardworking individuals who make up the Food Bank for Larimer County by donating our time, shelf stable foods, or by making a financial contribution to fight local food insecurity.

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References Cited Colorado Sun. “At a time they're needed most, Colorado food banks brace for fewer volunteers, shutdown of smaller pantries amid coronavirus fears.” (2020, March 17). Retrieved April 28, 2021, from https://coloradosun.com/2020/03/17/coronavirus-food-banks-volunteers/ Donnelly, P. (2021). Food Bank for Larimer County. Methods Class Interview via Zoom. February 17, 2021.

Feeding America. “The impact of Coronavirus on food insecurity.” Retrieved April 29, 2021, from https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/coronavirus-hunger-research Food Bank For Larimer County (FBLC). “History of the Food Bank For Larimer County.” (2021). Retrieved April 28, 2021 from https://foodbanklarimer.org/history/#:~:text=In%201984%2C%20under%20Sandy's%20leadership ,individuals%20and%20families%20in%20need.

Quinones, Franz, Food Bank for Larimer County. Interview with Brooke McConnell. 2021.

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Walter Tulis

Housing and Rental Assistance Providers In Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction Housing and rental assistance providers are a group defined by crisis. Historically, these individuals and their organizations wax and wane in importance depending on the social, political, and economic climate of the time. These individuals first saw societal relevance following the Great Depressions’ economic turmoil (A Brief Historical Overview 2015, 1). Historical cases such as this and the post-WWII housing crisis among many others have shown that housing and rental assistance providers play a crucial role in their ability to help alleviate tensions by providing housing for those affected by the crisis. Although not recognized in periods of stability, housing providers still carry out their selfless tasks to help individuals in need of housing. However, during these periods of security, especially non-profit organizations struggle to procure the necessary tools to reach the community and find persons most in need of housing (Pindus and Capps 1998, 15). Barriers like the rapidly changing day-to-day lifestyle of their clients, lack of funding for programs, and language differences pose a significant challenge for housing and rental assistance providers.

To gain more knowledge of their complex livelihoods, I conducted research over 3 months, consisting of three phases. The first phase was scholarly library research. In the second phase, I conducted interviews with a local housing organization, Neighbor to Neighbor. In phase three, I created a survey based on the previous two pieces of research and distributed it to the Murphy Center, another local housing organization. After the data were collected, a clear pattern emerged: increased funding after Covid-19 and efficient online meetings have allowed housing providers to reach the growing number of people in need.

Selected Findings and Connections Across Research Methodologies Based on the library research and interviews from Neighbor to Neighbor, I was able to identify several patterns within the first two phases of research. The first two phases pointed towards increased philanthropic donations, increased federal and state funding, a better mechanism to meet clients, as well as an uptick in need and community outreach. I used these findings to create the survey, below are the most significant patterns I found throughout the research.

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Survey question and results:

All three research phases showed housing providers receiving a boost in philanthropic donations. In times of need, individuals in the public feel a need to contribute, but may not have the time or necessary resources. Thus, housing providers have seen an increase in donations in the hopes they better contribute to the resolution of the crisis (Olson and Jerolleman 2020, 9). I believe these donations help bolster funding and simultaneously spread community awareness.

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

No opinion

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Survey question and results:

Housing assistance providers, such as Neighbor to Neighbor, moved daily activities during the pandemic to an online medium. Although they faced some setbacks, online meetings with their clients were better suited for their rapidly changing schedules. I conclude that efficient meetings meant more time and better reactions with clients.

This sentiment was reiterated in the survey.

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

No opinion

6

6

7

2

0

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Individuals at N2N have seen a dramatic rise in federal and state funding after the initial outbreak.

Other housing and rent assistance programs also saw an increase, as shown by the survey. I determined that the increase in funding means housing providers can take in more clientele and give better services to those already on their roster.

Survey question and results:

Strongly Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

No opinion

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4

0

0

0

Conclusion Housing and rental assistance providers have played a crucial role in helping mitigate the social and economic outcome of the pandemic by providing housing for those in need. Increased funding, both philanthropic and federal, shows the valuable role these individuals play as a force against the social and economic toll of the pandemic. Also, increased funding provides an opportunity to allow for greater reach into the local populace. Online efficient meetings have also dramatically changed the numbers of clients they can reach. Moving around a client’s day-to-day schedule flexibly through an online medium gives housing and rental assistance providers a new edge when it comes to efficiency. Now more than ever, individuals are struggling to find housing. However, I believe as society reaches a point of new normal, the crucial role and subsequent bolstering of importance this group is receiving may once again return to pre-pandemic levels. Leaving behind housing and rental providers and their newly increased clientele until another crisis requires their services to help diminish its after effects.

References Cited “A Brief Historical Overview of Affordable Rental Housing.” 2015. nlihc.org. 2015. https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Sec1.03_Historical-Overview_2015.pdf.

Olson, Laura and Alessandra Jerolleman. “COVID-19’s Impact on the Human & Social Services Sector.” 2020. Fema.gov. November 13, 2020.

Pindus, Nancy, Randy Capps, Amy-Ellen Duke, and Karin Malm. 1998. “Income Support and Social Services for Low-Income People in Colorado .” The Urban Institute. September 1998. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/66616/307639-Income-Support-and-SocialServices-for-Low-Income-People-in-Colorado

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Nick Gage

Grocery Store Workers In Fort Collins, Colorado, during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction The livelihood I studied was grocery store workers. The demographic of workers at a grocery store will range from people who are still in high school to those looking closer to retirement than their graduation. Goals around the store for each employee varies on the given department that the employee operates in. Some may work more in the back of the store receiving loads of food, where others will focus more on the customer experience throughout the store. The one thing that does correlate between any department is the overall goal of serving the customer to the employee’s best ability. Given that people in different departments will have varying degrees of work and staff, they face their own challenges within their work.

Because of the demands of the positions and the relatively low barrier of entry for these jobs, they face lots of turnover. However, the work that these people put in every single day gives people in the community a place to get their food and daily needs and serves as a place for the community to interact with one another.

To analyze how grocery workers coped and worked during the Covid-19 pandemic, I followed a series of steps to research the group. For Phase 1, I did a research paper where I looked at what the literature indicated about what essential workers were facing from the pandemic and other overall trends. For Phase 2, I interviewed two workers at King Soopers, a popular grocery chain in Fort Collins. Finally, for Phase 3, I created questions for a survey that employees from several grocery store locations participated in.

Throughout all my research, I came to the overall conclusion that essential workers are critical frontline employees in a time where sacrifice for the community that they serve is at an all-time high.

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.

Something that was an expected challenge for people in the essential worker group was the increase in the number of hours an employee would work in any given day. This point was very evident in each phase of my research. In my survey, one question asked for responses to the statement: “I have greater flexibility in choosing my work hours.” Results show a strong lack of flexibility; we can see that hours were tough for workers.

For many essential employees, Hazard Pay was a critical motivator, and its sudden removal made them very upset and caused confusion. One quote that I think best captures this confusion is from an article by Jack T. Dennerlein in which Dennerlein quotes an essential employee saying “We’re college students or we’re parents trying to raise kids. We need the paychecks.”

(Dennerlien2020)

From my interviews I learned that workers in the Upper-management group (Assistant store managers, store managers, etc..) had a system of communication that they would use to talk to other upper management employees to find solutions to difficult problems within each store.

Essential workers value the community that they work for. This was clear in one interview I conducted with an Assistant Store Manager. When asked what made her feel like an essential employee she responded: “It was the customers. I felt like their lives would grind to a halt if we were not there.” In my second interview, another worker from King Soopers concluded the interview with saying the pandemic made him realize the value of his community and who he serves. In the survey I conducted, I found more evidence of this desire to serve your community.

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In the survey, another question asked who makes you feels essential. As cheesy at it may sound for the workers taking the survey, the vast majority responded that their fellow associates made them feel essential in the workplace.

Conclusion One thing that I think this project was missing was the inclusion of stores with active labor unions throughout the store. I would encourage further research in the topic with that inclusion to see whether unions have made an active difference for this group. When looking at how essential workers coped with the pandemic and the struggles they faced during this time, it is easy to get very pessimistic about the future for this livelihood. However, from my research, I would point to a much more optimistic future for these workers.

This optimism comes from how they viewed the community, also how the sense of community was present throughout the pandemic. Another point of optimism is that grocery workers are able to get vaccinated in the first groups. Being vaccinated helped eliminate the fear of going to work in relation to the virus itself. I know as a grocery store worker myself that as long as we stick together as a community, we will always succeed.

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References Consulted Bhattarai, A. (2020). “’It feels like a war zone’: As more of them die, grocery workers increasingly fear showing up at work.” The Washington Post. April 12.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Cashiers, Camden, Matt C., Virginia A. Price & Timothy D. Ludwig (2011) Reducing Absenteeism and Rescheduling Among Grocery Store Employees With Point-Contingent Rewards, Journal of Organizational Behavior Management.

Dennerlein, J. T. (2020). An Integrative Total Worker Health Framework for Keeping Workers Safe and Healthy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Hecker, S. (2020.) Hazard Pay for COVID-19? Yes, But It’s Not a Substitute for a Living Wage and Enforceable Worker Protections. New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. June 20.

Kane, J.W and A. Tomer. (2020). Valuing Human Infrastructure Protecting and Investing in Essential Workers during the Covid-19 Era. Public Works Management & Policy. November 11.

Kornfield, M. (2020). Covid-19 has killed 100 grocery store workers. Vitalina Williams, a ‘bear hug of love,’ was one. The Washington Post.

Mathiassen, S.E., M. Bolin, G. Olofsdotter, E. Johansson. (2020). Equal health at work? Protocol for an observational study of work organisation, workload and musculoskeletal complaints among women and men in grocery retail. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Phillips, A. M. (2021). THE NATION; Grocery stores struggle to provide masks for workers; Federal interference is making it harder to protect their essential crews, companies say. LA Times. April 26.

Redman, R. (2021). Grocery workers feel less prepared during COVID-19 pandemic. Supermarket News.

Redman, R. (n.d.). Over 11,500 grocery workers affected in first 100 days of pandemic. Supermarket News.

Rodríguez-Rey, Rocío, H. Garrido-Herrnansaiz and N. Bueno-Guerra. (2020). Working in the Times of COVID19. Psychological Impact of the Pandemic in Frontline Workers in Spain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Schumann, J. H. (2020). 'Secret Life Of Groceries' Shines A Light On Bounty's Dark Side. NPR. November 7.

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Lu Epstein

Student Workers

in Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction This project focused on those in different livelihoods and how they have been impacted by COVID. The group that I investigated was student workers. Student workers are a working group that are generally not taken into consideration, even though they are your local grocery clerks, baristas, servers, and more. Student workers actively manage and mitigate their responsibilities in order to stay present and efficient in their academic, work, and personal life. Before the pandemic, working through the different obligations we have could be very overwhelming, and finding the right amount of energy to put into each area takes a while to perfect. Should an adjustment in energy allocation be made, an entire collapse of the previously managed system could occur. With COVID, it is difficult for student workers to distribute the same amount of time and/ or energy they had prior to the pandemic.

This investigation involved three phases: library research, interviews, and surveys. The goal for my library research (Phase 1) was to understand the economic implications COVID has created for student workers, to see how student workers’ livelihoods have been impacted as a whole, and to determine how student workers are managing their mental health through the pandemic. The semi-structured interview I conducted (Phase 2) with a student coffee shop manager on Colorado State University’s Campus included questions drawn from Phase 1. Finally, I conducted a survey (Phase 3) that included questions created through overlapping information in Phase 1 & 2. Each phase of this investigation produced powerful insights. This research has also made clear how much more research needs to be done on the impacts of COVID-19 on different groups of workers. If you would like to learn more about how student workers have been affected by the pandemic, please continue reading this brief overview of the investigation.

A Look into Student Workers Lives Since the pandemic, student workers’ mental health is at an all-time low. This point was specifically brought up in all three phases of the investigation: the library research, the interview, and the survey. There is an overlap with student workers developing resilience through the pandemic because they are not able to ignore different aspects of their lives, which also contributes to their poor mental health. For example, when student workers were asked to respond to the statement, “Covid-19 has forced me to become more resilient… (options: strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree),” 80% of the student workers that responded agreed. (See Figure 1)

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Figure 1: Forced resilience during COVID-19

My interviewee mentioned how he has been forced to become more resilient, “for good or bad.”

He was referring to “good” in the sense he is able to somewhat manage his different realms (work, academics, personal, etc.), but “bad” in the sense of the toll it has taken on his mental health.

Although student workers are capable of juggling these different aspects in their lives, the added pressures of COVID have required us to adjust our daily routine, causing an imbalance to the point that balls are being dropped. Forced resilience (not having the ability to stop or give less; the need to keep going regardless of the repercussions) and mental health were topics that overlapped in my library research and interview, which prompted me to ask a pair of survey questions about mental health. The first question read: “Prior to the pandemic, I considered my mental health to be” (options: excellent, good, average, above average, on the brink).

The second question read: “During the pandemic, I would consider my mental health to be” (options: excellent, good, average, above average, on the brink). (See figure 2 & 3)

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Prior to the pandemic, 95% of the student workers that responded were doing average to above average with their mental health.

The original 95% of student workers that reported their mental health being average to good prior to the pandemic, has now declined to 35%. That means the remaining 65% of student workers that responded are or have experienced poor mental health or are/ have been “on the brink” during the pandemic.

Conclusion As a student worker, I felt that it is incredibly important to illuminate the difficulties we have been presented throughout this pandemic as well as the toll these challenges have taken on us. Although we are struggling in a variety of areas such as our academics, work, personal life, and more, our mental health seems to be at the bottom of the barrel. Luckily, through the difficulties this pandemic has presented, many student workers have developed resilience. Whether for immediate good or bad as my interviewee mentioned, it will surely benefit us in the long run. We’ve become so good at juggling; but we need to redistribute that balance throughout our life in order to stay present and connected. It is easy to shut down and block out things that cause us grief, but it is much more rewarding to experience life with all it has to offer, even if that's done through wearing a mask.

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Figure Index Figure 1: Forced resilience during COVID-19 [Breakdown Bar Graph]. (2021).

Figure 2: Student workers mental health prior to COVID [Bar Chart]. (2021).

Figure 3: Student workers mental health during COVID [Bar Chart]. (2021).

References Consulted Dufour, Robert. 2014. "Feeling the Pressure: Differences in Blood Pressure among Working Undergraduate Students." ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Accessed February 7, 2021. https://searchproquest-com.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/docview/1638253547?accountid=10223 Elsharkawy, Abdelaziz, and Nadia B. Elsharkawy. 2020. “Levels of Fear and Uncertainty Regarding the Spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Among University Students.” Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ppc.12698 Labrague, Leodoro, Janet Alexis A. De los Santos, and Charlie C. Falguera. 2020. “Social and emotional loneliness among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: The predictive role of coping behaviors, social support, and personal resilience.” Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ppc.12721 Schiff, Miriam, et al. 2020. “COVID-Related Functional Difficulties and Concerns Among University Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Binational Perspective.” Journal of Community Health, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10900-020-00930-9

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Ian Morris

Local Musicians In Fort Collins, Colorado During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction From live band performances, streaming music during workouts, or singing with friends on road trips, music is an everyday part of life for many of us. Local Fort Collins musicians have enjoyed sharing their passion of music with excited audiences, including many who have found it to be a successful career. As a profession, musicians often face many struggles including time away from loved ones, long hours, and the hardships of coping with these issues. These artists are talented, passionate, and influential members of our community that seldom have a voice when the microphone is turned off.

Over a four-month period in early 2021, I conducted a threephase research project to better understand how local musicians have been dealing with the pandemic. Phase One began with library research into already published journals to understand a baseline in the lives of musicians.

From that research, I conducted two semi-formal interviews with local musicians to learn about their personal experiences during this pandemic. The third and Final Phase of research was a survey. I formed a set of questions from all my research so far that was sent out to local musicians, garnering two dozen responses. From this research, I learned a great deal about their financial struggles, battles with depression, and how nationwide social issues have inspired new creative outlets. These artists are excited to have their voices heard and I invite you to follow along as I share some of their experiences.

Financial Impact While the pandemic shuttered many industries over the past year, Fort Collins musicians are still trying to recover as many venues and public spaces remain closed.

Figure 2: Survey Question: “Prior to the pandemic, music was: “

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Social Unrest Leads to New Expression While the pandemic raged on in 2020, social tensions exploded on the national stage with the Black Lives Matter movement and a tense Presidential Election. Even here in Fort Collins, local musicians seem to have been overwhelmingly affected by these national events as it has directly influenced their art.

Figure 1: Survey Question Over the past year, the social and political movements in our country have influenced my creative output (e.g. Black Lives Matter, Capital Riots, etc.)

My library research was supported by the stories of my interviewees as they shared how common depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse was in the industry.

Both interview subjects expressed a profound influence in their music by these social movements of 2020.

When presented to survey participants, 85% responded that the social movements of 2020 had also influenced their creative work.

One explanation could be that artists often draw inspiration from the world around them, leading to a potentially more empathetic social awareness in their professional lives.

The Personal Toll The social and mental toll of the pandemic has weighed on us all. Musicians in Fort Collins are no exception as seen in the following research results.

From my survey results, I found that between 70-80% of participants experienced a rise in depression and/or anxiety during the pandemic.

Although depression and anxiety rates rose, surprisingly only 70% of respondents did not turn to alcohol abuse to cope with the new stresses.

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Conclusion Local Fort Collins musicians have struggled like many of us, though from my research there seems to be an optimism and excitement about moving forward. Some of the musicians I spoke with have told me that they are already beginning to perform live again. Most of them have expressed a renewed enthusiasm to create new music and practice their craft. Though we have not yet cleared the storm, many local musicians see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would like to see continued research on the long term impacts the pandemic has had on local musicians along the subjects covered in this review. I believe we could learn a lot from understanding how this prolonged pandemic has impacted the lives of local musicians. I would like to see how a longitudinal study that checks in every couple months or so could shed light on these long term impacts. With vaccines reaching more people every day, hopefully soon we will be able to put the pandemic behind us and enjoy music in a public venue with our friends and loved ones.

References Consulted Blistein, Jon and Millman, Ethan. “When Will Live Music Return?”. Rolling Stone. December 22, 2020. https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/when-live-music-return-2021-covid-1106719/. Accessed Feb 7, 2021.

Davis, Clinton. “Noise and Meaning: A Cognitive Ethnography of San Diego Musicians”. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2011. https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/docview/914181893?pqorigsite=summon. Accessed Feb 2, 2021.

Dobson, Melissa. “Insecurity, Professional Sociability, and Alcohol: Young Freelance Musicians’ Perspectives on Work and Life in the Music Profession.” Psychology of music 39, no. 2 (April 2011): 240–260. https://journals-sagepubcom.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735610373562. Accessed Feb 2, 2021.

Duke, Laura. “The Months the Music Died: COVID Cuts into Ability to Raise Voices, Instruments.” Chronicle-Herald (Halifax, N.S.). Halifax, N.S: CEDROM-SNi INC, October 5, 2020. https://tinyurl.com/yy22aku3. Accessed Jan 29, 2021.

King, Pierce. “‘Music Is Life’: Identity, Challenge, and Passion in the Occupational Patterns of Male Young Adult Rock Musicians.” Journal of occupational science 27, no. 2 (April 2, 2020): 204–215. https://www-tandfonlinecom.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/doi/full/10.1080/14427591.2019.1641142. Accessed Feb 2, 2021.

Stoner, Robert and Dutra, Jessica. The US Music Industries: Jobs & Benefits: The 2020 Report”. RIAA Recording Industry Association of America. Economists Incorporated. December 2020. https://www.riaa.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/02/The-U.S.-Music-Industries-Jobs-Benefits-2020-Report.pdf. Accessed Feb 10, 2021.

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Rachel Hickey

Theatre Professionals In Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction Imagine a world with no television, movies, plays, musicals, or operas. Before we had access to film, movies, and television was played out on stage.

Theatre gave us these modern ways of entertainment. Imagine going through 2020 without a streaming service; most of us would have gone insane. The arts are essential. They are not just entertaining but a form of expression and free-thinking. Before 2020, the theatre was already a challenging career to pursue. Theatre artists deal with a lack of job security and competition from other artists. Going to the theatre is an experience if it was just about watching something to be entertained, you could stay home and watch a movie. But the connection that you get with the actors and other members of the audience would not be there.

My research into the effects of the pandemic on people in theatre started with initial library research. I found articles about their livelihoods before and during the pandemic. From my research, I came up with questions and interviewed Sydney Parks-Smith, the executive director of Open Stage in Fort Collins, Colorado. Then based on my research and my interview, we created a survey distributed to theatre artists of Northern Colorado. Read on to find out why theatre artists have had to take a break from their dreams due to the dangers and difficulties because of the covid-19 pandemic and how they have handled the hardships that came with them.

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Optimism In every aspect of my research, I found a lot of optimism for their future outlook in theatre.

During my experience working in the covid-19 pandemic, my outlook on the future of my career is…

In my library research, I found that most theatre artists of Broadway are confident of theatre coming back.

Sydney told me the reason why Open Stage will not fail is that she won't let it.

My survey told the same story.

Theatre artists are not ready to give up on theatre.

For me, it was amazing to see how optimistic people were about the future

Experiencing the hardships of the pandemic on my theatre work has made me reconsider my life goals.

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, and it is hard to remain optimistic Uncertainty of what is to come makes making decisions hard I hope to see the theatre come back in full force soon.

Audience In my library research, I read a book called "Theatre and Audience" by Helen Freshwater. She examines the importance of an audience in the theatre, I brought this up to Sydney when we talked, and she agreed that the audience is an essential part of the theatre. She then told me about a study in London where they monitored audience heart rates during a show. The finding showed that the subject's heart rates went up and down at the same time. They all synchronized and responded in the same way. Due to covid-19, it is unsafe for many people in a room at once, not just for the audience, but would put the

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actors at risk. Shows can be live-streamed, but this isn't the same. Going to the theatre is an experience, something that was missed during the pandemic.

Conclusion Theatre isn't going anywhere. Many places have either implemented new safety features for the actors, like see-through masks for them to wear. Theatre is a billion-dollar business that employs billions across the country and entertains the masses. The optimism I found from across the board proves that theatre artists do not want to give up on theatre and continue working in the industry.

Citations Freshwater, Helen. “Theatre and Audience.” Google Books. Google. Accessed February 4, 2021. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9TldAQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7& amp;dq=theatre%2Bperformers%2B&ots=mMIg64euve&sig=s00x3WWrnleayIjlIchyUPL9Rio#v =onepage&q=theatre%20performers&f=false.

Stanley, Megan. "Audience Members' Heart Rates Synchronize during Live Performance, Study Finds."

The National Student. The national student, November 20, 2017. https://www.thenationalstudent.com/Arts_and_Theatre/2017-1120/audience_members_heart_rates_synchronise_during_live_performance_study_finds.html. Accessed March 8, 2021

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Danika Minthorn

Retail Shop Owners In Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction Local retail is a business sector with a wide diversity of types of stores, products, goals, owners, and communities served.

At its foundation, local retail requires a lot of investment of time and money from the owners and depends on a strong connection to the community and the customers they serve.

Local retail works on a much smaller scale compared to bigbox stores like Target or Walmart, and because of this difference, local retail focuses on creating great shopping experiences for their customers while offering items that you couldn’t find anywhere else.

Creative Commons

For this research on the impact of Covid-19 on local retail in Fort Collins, I conducted initial background research in order to understand the identity of local retail, what sets local retail apart from other kinds of retail, and in what ways could local retailers be specifically affected by Covid-19? Phase two of the research included two semi-structured interviews conducted with local retail owners in Fort Collins with questions based around findings from the initial library research. The first interview I conducted was with Jim Hewitt, owner of the local kitchen specialty store The Cupboard, and the second interview was conducted by the whole Anthropology Cultural Methods class with Amy Satterfield, owner of Wadoo Home and Gifts.

In phase three I used the information collected from the “It's very heartwarming. I had one guy interviews that correlated with the initial library research come in and say, ‘I have 50 bucks, give me to formulate survey questions to be distributed to other anything I don't care what it is, I just want local retailers in downtown Fort Collins. The survey to buy something from you so you can stay responses concluded with answers from 20 respondents, open.’ People are freaking awesome.” and by the end of this research it became clear that Fort Collins local retailers have faced many challenges during --Amy Satterfield, owner of Wadoo the Covid-19 pandemic. However, despite the ongoing challenges, the retailers have felt supported by their customers, and many remain positive in their outlooks for the future of their businesses.

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Selected Findings and Connections Across Research Methodologies Based on initial findings from the background research and from the interviews with local retail owners, I wanted to further investigate experiences and support systems that could have potentially made a difference for downtown retailers during Covid-19. Both the background research and the interviews indicated that things like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and support from the community played critical roles for the well-being of local retail. These findings were then posed in a series of survey questions and the responses highlighted in this report represent the most significant trends found in the survey.

•

The majority of survey respondents reported having a positive outlook for the future of their businesses. 75% of participants responded with a “good” or “excellent” outlook, and no one responded with a “terrible” outlook.

•

The overwhelming majority of survey respondents (75%) reported having felt a stronger sense of community among downtown retailers.

15% did not feel a stronger sense of community.

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•

The federallysponsored PPP loan was shown to be crucial for most respondents with 70% reporting that the money from the PPP loan was critical to the survival of their business. However, 25% of respondents do not agree that PPP money was crucial to their business’s survival.

•

Feeling supported by local customers was a striking trend among downtown retailers with 95% of respondents reporting that they have felt supported by local customers during the difficult time of the pandemic.

Conclusion Local retailers in Fort Collins have faced many challenges that have arisen from the Covid-19 pandemic, from mandated closures and financial stress to concern for the safety of customers and employees. This research was focused on the potential factors that made a difference or show the experience for local retailers during Covid-19. And while there still remains a lot to be investigated as the pandemic continues to progress, what can be shown through this research is that throughout the pandemic there have been overwhelming trends of support from the community, customers, and fellow downtown retailers. As retailers transition into a new sense of normal, many remain positive for the future of their businesses.

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“I don't have fears that our business won’t continue, I feel like things will get back to more of a normal…but you know we’ve had some great customers that continue to keep us in business.”

--Jim Hewitt, owner of The Cupboard

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Ranae Call

Restaurant Owners and Managers In Fort Collins, Colorado, During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction Restaurant owners and operators/managers offer a significant service to people everywhere.

Being in this position requires ever changing schedules, food shelf-life management, team building, and leadership. It can be overlooked, but restaurants offer important gathering spaces and food recipes for varying communities. Restaurants and their built environment are capable of hosting a variety of events from first dates to work related meetings. Restaurants that are local to places and not considered “chains” pride themselves in their recipes and longevity. For a restaurant owner or operator, the work is more than food quality; it also involves fiscal and staffing management.

My research consisted of three phases that began with library research, continued with interviews, and then finished with surveys. It is important to have cultural humility, so I first familiarized myself with the role of being a restaurant owner or operator. I performed an interview with the manager of a local restaurant and bar in Fort Collins, CO. In doing so, I learned much about the way in which employees responded to the coronavirus. After the interview, I created a survey to relay to a listserv of downtown area restaurants in Fort Collins. I then analyzed the results from the nine respondents. The survey asked questions about how they were handling different aspects of the pandemic including customer compliance and government funding. Restaurant owners and management alike have adapted to serve a world with new protocols and changes in staffing.

•

One question I posed in the survey asked about experiences in the restaurant with the general public as they related to willingness to follow ordinances, tipping, and supporting contact tracing methods (see graph below).

•

Most people indicated that customers were “willing” or “very willing” to comply with ordinances related to COVID-19 and to provide gratuities. A smaller number reported that customers were only “slightly willing” to comply and tip.

•

For the question regarding willingness to support the restaurant’s contact tracing method, the majority (6) said their customers were “willing” or “very willing,” while a third of owners or managers (3) indicated that customers were only “slightly willing.” I wondered if the reason for a little less support of contact tracing by customers related to the concern about privacy and potentially having their information sold.

Q: In my interactions with guests, I would say most

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A second series of survey questions inquired about work satisfaction as it may have been affected since the pandemic in three distinct ways: changes in the menu, increases in work hours, and relationships with coworkers. (See chart below).

•

No one reported that any of these changes since the pandemic had created a “big positive impact” on their work satisfaction.

•

However, a slight majority of restaurant owners/managers (5 of 9) reported that there was “some positive impact” on their relationships with coworkers.

•

At the negative end of the results, the requirement to work longer hours was reported by 5 of 9 respondents as having a “negative impact” on their sense of work satisfaction, with 4 of these 5 reporting a “big negative impact” and 1 of 5 reporting “some negative impact.” Longer working hours in a time of great uncertainty presents understandable stress for restaurant owners and managers who cannot necessarily assume their establishment will survive the pandemic.

Q: The satisfaction of my work experience has been affected or not affected by

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Q: In thinking about your work in the context of Covid-19, how do the following statements reflect your experience?

Question 1

2

I have a renewed sense of energy in my work or creative endeavors.

I have a greater sense of commitment to my work/creative pursuits and the populations I serve.

Strongly agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Total

0.00%

0

22.22%

2

22.22%

2

11.11%

1

44.44%

4

9

0.00%

0

11.11%

1

22.22%

2

44.44%

4

22.22%

2

9

It is notable that restaurant respondents with an opinion (5/7) indicated they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that they felt a renewed sense of energy in their work since the pandemic. By comparison, a majority of retail shop owners with an opinion reported agreeing or strongly agreeing with this statement (9 of 14). Similarly, 6 of 7 restaurant respondents disagreed with the statement that they felt a greater sense of commitment to their work, contrasting with 12 of 18 retailers who agreed or strongly agreed with the statement.

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Conclusion The unusual and ongoing stress of running a restaurant during the pandemic is visible through the findings that the increased time required to adapt and stay in business took a toll on commitment and energy. At the same time, survey findings suggest that work relationships may have strengthened as a way of coping. Though COVID-19 presented “never faced before” situations to people working in restaurants, it brought forward a lot of innovation and spark for community engagement such as increased access to food banks. The survey question revealed that restaurant employees felt “mostly safe” in their work environment.

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ANDREW JEDLICKA

BERIT DOOLITTLE

BROOKE MCCONNELL

CLAIRE TAAGEN

DANIKA MINTHORN

IAN MORRIS

LU EPSTEIN

NICK GAGE

OLIVIA HEIFETZ

RACHEL HICKEY

RANAE CALL

WALTER TULIS

DR. KATE BROWNE

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Students in the Methods in Cultural Anthropology class (Spring 2021) and Professor Kate Browne extend our sincere thanks to the following people, organizations, and establishments for their generous help and contributions to this study: Medical and Mental Health: Annika Kamberelis, PA-C ; Kelly Schmalstich, NP; Lynn Kalert, NP-C; Laura Ornowski-Hildebrand, MS, ANP-C; Angie Scarpello, Columbine Health Systems; Kate Hagdorn, Monica Keele, MPH, and Janelle Patrias, MSW, CSU Health Network.

Retail: Tom Stoner and Brandon Hocke, Spoons; Amy Satterfield, Wadoo; Jim Hewitt, The Cupboard; Hannah Baltz-Smith, Downtown Development Authority. Theatre: Sydney Parks Smith, OpenStage Theatre. Grocery: Kyle Foy, Victoria Edwards and Danya Juarez, King Soopers. Education: Shannon Lewis and Arielle Kukafka, Poudre School District. Social Services: Paul Donnelly, Food Bank for Larimer County; Franz Quinones; David Rout, Homeward Alliance. Music: Mike Finders; Caroline Beatrous; Rob Osborne, Avogadro’s Number; Steve Price. Fitness: Sue MacMiillan; Chad Bryant, Raintree Athletic Club. Other: Kate Jeracki; Jane Albritton.

We also thank the brilliant graphic design team at PushIQ, Elena Haverluk, and Beth Etter for their work to help us produce the poster and digital book. We also thank our beloved Department of Anthropology and Geography and the College of Liberal Arts for their financial contributions to help support this project.

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