Emergent Strategy 2: Coronavirus Protocols, Practices, and Policies

 

Emergent Strategy: Coronavirus protocols, practices, and policies

3/27/20 

WE ARE HERE NOW.

We are here together at this specific point in time; WE at Place Corps and WE across the globe. We are ALL feeling our interdependence. We are ALL feeling the fever break us open. When something breaks it transforms; we see this when seeds open from their pods, we see this when mothers give birth, we see this as a life force energy. This is a powerful moment and while it is hard to know what is immediately emerging with this pandemic we imagine the near future will further rip us a re-vision. This moment is an opportunity to envision our shared life and collective purpose of regeneration. This is a revolution point.

While we feel the contractions of what mother nature is birthing now, we feel collective pain and anxiety. As a mother who has labored, who is an initiated body, I can say with confidence what we do now is breathe together. We also act as midwives, birth doulas, and grief doulas. We act as hospice givers. We mourn and we rejoice together as what we knew only two weeks ago is breaking apart, dying, and something new is being born. This may be a long labor but WE ARE HERE NOW  to help each other through this and into a new place of hope. When we talk about cultivating a calling to know, love, and serve our places. Our places are those places of hope--the human place in harmonic relationship with all of life.

We have updated our Covid-19 response and will be continuing to do so. Place Corps has implemented a programmatic protocol that is effective immediately and is outlined below. This plan follows CDC guidelines, and is informed by other local educational and affiliate institutions. It was created with support of Hawthorne Valley and guidance of the core education team. This plan is subject to change. This plan outlines a structure for continued participation at Place Corps. 

Place Corps Coronavirus Plan 3/27/20-5/17/20 

***Place Corps will revisit this pandemic plan weekly and make any emergent adjustments to social distancing protocols as needed 

● Place Corps will practice radical care by social distancing 

  • Place Corps education will move to digital communications with all educators and staff through May 8th 2020 

  • Off-Campus Workshops, Field Trips, Seminars, Spring Break, Graduation, and In-Person Community Gatherings will be cancelled during this time 

  • Work Study will return to HV Farm practicing strict social distance protocols and sanitation procedures

  • Residents may return home during this time recognizing they will not be able to return to campus for the remainder of the semester. Residents electing to leave may determine with the Program Director to continue their studies with Place Corps remotely. Campus support (food and work study opportunities) apply to campus residents only. 

  • Residents opting to stay on campus are asked to recommit to their plan for self quarantine through May 17th 2020 with the exception of social distancing with Hawthorne Valley farmers and Place Corps educators who have maintained strict self-quarantine measures. 

  • Campus is restricted to only Place Corps residents, educators, and staff 

  • Contact with the HV Farm Store is for essential groceries and supplies only 

  • Contact with the HV Farm will only be related to Regen Ag curriculum and Work Study and follow social distance and sanitization protocols 

  • If a resident demonstrates symptoms of Coronavirus, the Place Corps director is to be immediately notified as well as the family of the resident. All residents must follow mandatory state prescribed quarantine procedures including implementing a house hotspot for self-isolation 

  • Place Corps team will act as a care circle around residents offering ongoing place support as needed. 

  • Participants will abide by all Hawthorne Valley Campus Covid-19 protocols in  addition to the Place Corps set of protocols, with recognition that Hawthorne Valley Farm is a critical resource to our community for food production and distribution. Therefore extra precautions must be made to keep the workers here safe.

Cooperation

● We ask that Place Corps participants complete program and course deliverables as collaboratively outlined between 3/13/20-3/27/20 with an amended Covid semester schedule 

● We ask that Place Corps participants practice remote learning communication diligence by checking emails two times a day (1x morning 1 x evening) and replying to educators, administrators, advisors, and fellow participants within a 24hr period from the time the initial email was sent.

● We ask that Place Corps participants adjust their practicums with their advisors to support social distancing and appropriately scale projects for the last month of practicum during this pandemic

● We ask that Place Corps participants support one another and the program with loving kindness practices developed together this year 

Place Corps recognizes residents may not be able to travel, or return to families, or have constraints and needs that are best served by staying on campus. “Schnack Shack” will be a home in Ghent for residents until the end of the semester. Those who remain on campus must agree to follow guidelines and instructions issued by Place Corps as well as public health recommendations which will adapt to circumstances as they change. This will most likely include types of self-isolation/quarantine procedures. Residents can elect to leave at any point. However, residents who leave will not be able to return to campus for the entirety of the semester. Those who elect to leave at any point must also inform the Place Corps director immediately. Place Corps will support residents who elect to leave by continuing learning remotely in order to complete the program. 

As always I am here to listen, I am here to support you, I am here to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for anything. 

Meanwhile, my hope is that we feel gratitude to be alive HERE NOW. To breathe together. To breathe in the air we share and appreciate the sky that is hugging us, HERE on earth. The sky is healing with this halt to business as was normal. 

With an overflowing heart of admiration, 

Dawn Breeze, Co-founder and Director

 
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