Valley Writers Respond to COVID-19

Yonsei Memory Project is proud to present new essays in a series called “Valley Writers Respond.” We invited writers based in California’s San Joaquin Valley to reflect on the current moment, utilizing a single word (such as breathing or distance) as a prompt for writing. “Valley Writers Respond” was inspired by a strong desire to do something, to help tend to each other, to create understanding even through difficulty as we all find our ways through a pandemic. YMP has never shied away from deep truth-telling, and now, while so many are in duress, we turn to art and artists to hold space for us to process.

In “Valley Writers Respond” three Valley writers share their wisdom in short original essays. The project includes essays by Samina Najmi, Will Freeney, and Steven Church and excerpts will be featured on Valley Public Radio’s “Valley Edition” program on May 29, 2020.