[Archived] City of Alexandria Launches Initiatives to Chronicle the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Legacy of George Floyd

­­For Immediate Release: June 12, 2020

The City of Alexandria has launched two initiatives to recognize and record the Alexandria community’s response to two ongoing, historic events: the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd on May 25. The City’s Office of Historic Alexandria will gather oral histories and collect select memories, objects, photographs and documents that capture these unprecedented moments in history. These initiatives reach out to residents, businesses, schools, healthcare workers, faith communities and civic organizations to tell these national stories at the local level.

For the first initiative, “Chronicling the Pandemic,” the community is encouraged to share stories about living or working in Alexandria during the pandemic; describe how they and their families’ lives have changed; show how they have been able to help others; narrate how others have helped them; or illustrate what became different in Alexandria because of the pandemic. Participants can also share artwork, homemade items, photographs, journals or other artifacts that can help document the impact of COVID-19 on the community. To share a story, or to provide information about objects to be considered for acquisition into the City’s historical collections, simply complete and submit the Chronicling the Pandemic form.

The second initiative, “The Legacy of George Floyd and Alexandria’s Response,” invites the community to share signs, t-shirts, flyers, photographs, journals, personal stories, and artifacts that document local vigils and protests. Items accepted for donation to the City’s historical collections will be housed at the Alexandria Black History Museum. To share a story or to provide information about objects that might be considered for the project, complete the Legacy of George Floyd: Documenting Alexandria's Response form.

Visit alexandriava.gov/Historic for more information about these projects.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.