Hello!

Are you ready to learn how to support your communities and frontline workers who face of inequities?

WHAT:  Pitzer Asian American Studies Professor Kathy Yep invites you to a workshop with Dr.Grace Yoo and her students (Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University).  They will discuss contributing to their resilient communities and to the Auntie Sewing Squad.  As beginner sewers who learned to make masks, the SFSU students will teach how to sew masks. They are hoping to teach people:
- with no or little experience with sewing and mask making
- who want to contribute to their communities
- who want to make masks for frontline essential workers who have difficulty purchasing or making masks.

WHEN: Monday June 29, 2020, 3:30 - 5 p.m. PDT

WHO: Open to the general public.  It is geared towards those new to sewing.

WHERE: Fill out survey to receive Zoom link and sewing pattern and list of materials needed for workshop.

https://pitzer.zoom.us/j/97785406473

COST:  This event is to the general public. It is offered in the spirit of generosity.  If you can, feel free to donate to the Auntie Sewing Squad to support their work.  

SEWING MATERIALS: If you wish to make one mask during the workshop, these are the suggested items to bring:

One adult mask requires:
- Print out of the attached patterns (Large: Adult)
- Elastic (14 inches of 1/4 inch elastic)
- Cotton Fabric (7 inches x 20 inches) (If possible, tight-weave such as quilting  cotton fabric) (Wash and dry fabric prior to sewing)
- Scissors
- Sewing Machine OR thread and needle for hand sewers
-  Optional: pins, ruler

BACKGROUND:

THE EFFICACY OF MASKS IN COVID 19:   https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2020.0376

WHO ARE THE AUNTIE SEWING SQUAD?
"Volunteer QTNB, WOC & friends sewing masks for frontline and vulnerable communities: We are a group of self-sufficient volunteers giving our time, talent, materials and labor to sew, ship and deliver fabric masks to people who need them most. We help each other by sharing materials, patterns, sewing advice and moral support."

WHO DO THE AUNTIE SEWING SQUAD MAKE MASKS FOR?
"We focus our efforts on frontline essential workers with an emphasis on MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS and those with budget constraints that make it difficult to purchase masks. We want our masks on the frontline as much as possible (hospitals, medical workers and essential workers in public spaces). We also support vulnerable communities with masks and equipment."

https://news.yahoo.com/auntie-sewing-squad-made-50-180558793.html

HOW TO CONTACT:  donorbox.org/auntie-sewing-squad

REFLECTIONS:
Mutual Aid by Rebecca Solnit: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/14/mutual-aid-coronavirus-pandemic-rebecca-solnit

Farmer Workers and Masks: https://biofortified.org/2020/05/masks-farm-workers/

Podcast: Professor and Filmmaker Valerie Soe and Comedian Kristina Wong on the Auntie Sewing Squad
https://medium.com/@FeliciaLin/auntie-sewing-squad-combats-covid-19-one-mask-at-a-time-5d455a277b99

HEALTH (IN)EQUITIES:
COVID 19: TRACKING DATE BY RACE AND ETHNICITY https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/ucla-releases-covid-19-dashboard-tracking-race-and-ethnicity/2375166/

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/09/farm-workers-coronavirus-309897

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52941984

JUNE 29 SCHEDULE WITH SFSU STUDENTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE AUNTIE SEWING SQUAD
3:30 - 3:40 p.m. - Welcome and introductions (Dr. Kathy Yep, Pitzer)
3:40 - 3:50 p.m. -  Dr. Grace Yoo, SFSU
3:50 - 4:00 p.m. - SFSU students
4:00 - 4:15 p.m. - Group Demo
4:15 - 4:45 p.m. - Break out rooms by: hand sewn or machine
4:45 p.m. - zoom group picture
4:50 p.m. - Closing (Dr. Kathy Yep, Pitzer)
5: 00 p.m. - end

FMI: Kathleen_yep@pitzer.edu

Funding: Agnes Jackson Moreland Diversity Fund - Campus Life Committee

Sponsored by: Asian American Studies (Pitzer),  Summer Juice Series from Pitzer Dean of Faculty Office