Wilmington

An unwelcome storm makes this teen feel more welcomed

By Julia Narvaez I never realized what the word “community” meant until I handed a man a bright red Colgate box after Hurricane Florence. I’d never seen someone so happy. He picked up his son, who shared his big, bright smile, and told me he’d lost everything. His pictures. His son’s toys. Their home and sense…

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Waterlogged and waiting for hope

Waterlogged and waiting for hope By Jonny Morales I was looking at family photos, baby clothes, diplomas and other waterlogged possessions while waiting for teary-eyed homeowners to give me permission to throw them away. Forever. We were only 10 miles away from my home, so damaged by Hurricane Florence, that I would not be able to live in…

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Not Quite Through the Storm

Shecoria adapts to tragedy after Hurricane Florence When Hurricane Florence hit coastal North Carolina, Shecoria Smith, age 16, was worried about her father returning from a work trip. Shecoria Smith was hunkered down with her mother as the wind and rain pounded her city when a call came making her realize that tragedy from the hurricane…

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Asthmatic High School Student Discusses COVID-19 & Hurricanes

Jonny Morales knows the hospitals in his communities all too well – from Emergency Room visits for the asthma attacks he’s had as long as he can remember to serving as a volunteer in his high school years. Now with the coronavirus outbreak, he’s anxious that his local healthcare system will be overwhelmed. But thinking…

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Not Quite Through the Storm

Shecoria Smith was hunkered down with her mother as the wind and rain pounded her city when a call came making her realize that tragedy from the hurricane had hit close to home. Her friend’s mother and sibling were killed by a tree falling on their house. 

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HIV & COVID-19

Jeff Mills, 72, talks about how the coronavirus pandemic compares with the HIV/AIDS outbreak in the 1980’s and his life experiences as an activist. Mills has lived in Wilmington, North Carolina with his partner since 2013. Before moving to the southeastern U.S., Mills spent over fourty years in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s a…

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Hair Salon Owner Discusses COVID-19

Le’Shawna Brunson-Smith says the stimulus bill won’t be much of a help making up for the incoming she’s losing during the coronavirus. Brunson-Smith is the owner of Ladies Hair Design on Castle Street in Wilmington, North Carolina. Since Governor Cooper ordered the shut-down of hair salons, she’s been out of work. To make up for…

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She Rocks: International Women’s Day

A few weeks ago, the She Rocks team got back to the recording studio for the first episode of their second season. The five young women talked about the news of coronavirus, the Democratic presidential primary election, and International Women’s Day.  

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Veteran Living in Quarantine

James (Jim) Wall is 75 and currently in quarantine with his step-grandchildren. Wall is a retired attorney and disabled veteran who lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. He suffers from a heart condition and diabetes, and needless to say – he’s part of the population most vulnerable to coronavirus. Still, he’s staying positive, taking precautions, and…

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Coronavirus and Alcoholics Anonymous

David at the Intergroup office in Wilmington, North Carolina describes how COVID-19 is affecting Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the area. David explains how the coronavirus is impacting participants of Alcoholics Anonymous and how it may continue to affect groups and meetings in the near future. He talks about how the virus is different from natural…

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