Every Sunday, we’re featuring a story submitted to our community-based initiative, In This Together, which collects digital records that capture personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“An abrupt change in the daily routines of two working parents and a trio of 10, 8, and 6 year-olds was, at first, exciting. Late morning school in pajamas? Zero carpool lanes or scrambling for appointments? What a treat, what a welcomed respite from the frenetic pace of chilly, dark March. Then . . . frustration. Sadness at the milestones and moments we were missing with friends. Anger at dropped connections, overlapping Zoom calls, and the inability to hug people outside of our home’s walls. But late spring brought the What Ifs and the How Abouts. Slowly, slowly, we began to embark on a once-weekly drive around our quiet city, on the lookout for gorgeous artwork in oft-visited but rarely appreciated parts of town. Armed with face masks, boat loads of sanitizer, and rough maps cobbled together from the Sun-Times’ wonderful (and interactive!) mural website, we adventured through dozens of neighborhoods in eight weeks. Part social studies tour, part fresh air scavenger hunt—and all parts art appreciation—this small project brought beauty into our days and kept Chicago pride firmly in our hearts.” — Keely Flynn Schoeny, Chicago

See more stories.

Chicago, we want you to share your stories! Our community-based initiative, In This Together, seeks to collect digital records that capture personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you live in Chicago or its surrounding metropolitan area, we invite you to share your story or that of your community through content such as photographs, audio/visual recordings, and interviews.

Submit your stories.