EP #174 - 11.20.2020 - Practices of Memory for COVID-19

Today we have a discussion of COVID-19 Memorials with Chris Kocher, Joanna Hutchinson, Katherine Fugate, and Madeleine Fugate

Chris Kocher is the founder and executive director of COVID Survivors for Change.  He is also the co-creator of a project, National COVID-19 Remembrance, an art installation and memorial to victims of COVID-19 that involved 20,000 empty seats on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., and several statewide Remembrance events also featuring empty chairs.  He previously launched and led the Everytown Survivor Network, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, which is the nation’s largest community of gun violence survivors working together to end gun violence. 

Based in West Philly, Joanna Hutchinson is a part-time sculptor, avid crafter, and enjoys a career in finance. Joanna is the artist behind 100,000 Folds: a community sculpture project honoring COVID victims in the United States and worldwide. She likes bringing people together: for friendship, community, and art making. 100,000 Folds is a way for the artist, and others, to mourn and reflect around the coronavirus crisis.

MADELEINE FUGATE is 13 years old and an 8th grade student at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. When Madeleine was in the 7th grade, she was given a Community Action Project with the theme "Young Changemakers in a Covid-19 World." After hearing stories from her mother, who worked on the AIDS Memorial Quilt in the 1980s and told her healing it was at the time, Madeleine created the Covid Memorial Quilt to honor and remember all those who have died of COVID-19. Word has spread of the Covid Memorial Quilt and Madeleine has now received over 100 Memorial Squares from the US and from around the world.

KATHERINE FUGATE is a screenwriter, best known for creating, writing and executive producing the TV series ARMY WIVES. She was honored to work with First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on the "Joining Forces" campaign shining a light on the sacrifices of our military families. Katherine served 8 years on the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, West. Katherine is the proud mother of Madeleine.