Cedar Rapids, IA – The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library recognizes that we are living in a pivotal moment of history. As a cultural museum that uses stories and events from the past to better understand the present and prepare for the future, the NCSML will document how families are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is so important for us to capture these stories, artifacts, and memorabilia from this pandemic so that future generations can learn from this moment in time,” NCSML President and CEO Dr. Cecilia Rokusek says. “We can take these rich stories, discuss them, share then, and even compare them to the stories of survival from our immigrants of all backgrounds.”
“We hope to use the information we collect for future programs about resilience, dedication, patience, sacrifice, and coping,” she adds.
To do this, the NCSML needs your help. We encourage families to contribute their stories about how they are coping with Covid-19 today and to have intergenerational family conversations where mature adults share their life experiences concerning their own health-related experiences with younger generations.
Things to submit:
• Written stories
• Photos
• Video recordings
• Audio recordings
• Physical items such as signs or artwork created during the pandemic (no used face masks, please!)
Contact Library Director Dave Muhlena at dmuhlena@ncsml.org to arrange coordination of physical items.