The Conversation
Neighbors Make Chalk Drawings To Stay Connected
So many communities have shelter-in-place orders right now. So how do we avoid feeling isolated when we're supposed to stay in doors and avoid interacting with other people?
One mother in Mountain View, a suburb 40 miles south of San Francisco, came up with a unique idea to engage with her neighbors, without actually, well, engaging with them!
Daphne Sashin emailed her neighborhood group and invited folks to join her in making chalk art drawings on their driveways and in front of their homes. Then, the families could take turns touring the "community art museum."
Sashin said she wanted to make sure people were staying connected even while they were practicing social distancing.
"The idea was this would be something that would brighten everyone's day and it would bring us together as a community, even though we can't physically be together," Sashin told CNN.
The neighborhood responded in a big way with more than 50 households creating chalk drawings.
"Even homes that didn't sign up had drawings," Sashin said. "Everybody is stuck indoors, and it's a stressful time."
Some community members really flexed their artistic skills, including one neighbor who recreated Van Gogh's famous "Starry Night" painting.
Others included positive messages with their drawings, like "We're all in this together" and "Choose joy."
"This was an extra motivation to walk around the neighborhood," she said. "It brought people together in a safe way."
While Sashin was thrilled that her idea helped to get people outdoors during the mandatory stay-at-home order, she's hoping to keep the project going, even after the mandate has passed.
What a wonderful idea to encourage neighbors to come together during a time of crisis. It's amazing what people can accomplish when they work together!
What are you doing in your community to stay connected with others during the coronavirus crisis? Share your experience in the comments below!
