All Roads Media features interviews and creative works from new, occasional, and established storytellers. Whether you are a storyteller or story lover, an artist or everyman, this space is for you.
All Roads Media features interviews and creative works from new, occasional, and established storytellers. Whether you are a storyteller or story lover, an artist or everyman, this space is for you.
Hi friends, it's been a minute as there’s been a lot churning in our mind and heart lately. First things first, know that we see you. A lot of us are not ok right now, and a lot about the world is not ok right now. Many of you are dealing with incredible stress and trauma as a result of recent events, including the very real loss of livelihood, mental and physical stability, and even dear loved ones. Compassion and empathy for one another feels both at an all-time high and an all-time low. And often our safety and sanity feel at stake as we navigate this “new normal” that is, still, inherently NOT normal. Honestly, it’s hard to know what to do or feel these days let alone muster the strength to seek out what little joy or solace we can, or even justify it in the first place, especially if the fight is for your very life or the lives of others. We're in this with you and hope we can continue to be a source of solace, support, and perhaps even joy in these extreme times.
Amidst all of this, as many of you know all too well, artists continue to struggle through the loss of venues, employment, and federal unemployment assistance. The arts industry as a whole has been affected by the pandemic on a scale greater than almost no other. We know a lot is being asked of you these days but we cannot afford to lose these indispensable pillars of our community. If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to support the industry and individual artists in whatever way possible, big or small, whether directly, through industry unions and institutions, the various resources we’ve pulled and circulating online, and, perhaps most importantly, by reaching out to your local and federal representatives to extend much-needed financial and healthcare support. This goes especially for Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and Trans artists, who experience the effects of this pandemic at an inexcusable and disproportionately higher rate. We need our artists, and we need each other now more than ever.
If you’re an artist in need, we’ve collected resources that might be of use in these increasingly dire times. You can find them on our Instagram page and Stories Highlight. Please feel free to share any others you’ve come across with us or post them in the comments.
Finally, we encourage you to keep creating but also to take care of yourself, especially if that means rest. Your talent and gifts are vital but more importantly, you, as a person, are vital.
We're thinking of you all and sending our "virtual pod" a huge and heartfelt wave of love and hope.
Sincerely yours,
Caitlin Simkovich
Founder & Editor