A snowstorm without the snow. That's what it's like in our neighborhood. The streets eerily quiet and the grocery shelves almost bare. But something's very different: Blizzards don't last for weeks (or months). Pretty quickly things get back to normal. That has yet to happen here.

Some of us are putting our lives on hold while others are busier than ever—medical workers, first responders, and teachers adjusting to online learning. All of us called to care for others—those close at home and across the globe.

We are living at a defining moment in our history as coronavirus touches each and every one of us—though in different ways—financial struggles for some and for others coming to grips with missed opportunities—a job interview, a graduation, a family celebration.

In an effort to cope some of us keep lists or make big plans (learn a new language, start a podcast). For others scoring a major victory means making it through the day. One friend vows to take up cooking for the first time ever and another tries a new recipe every day of the week. (Most would rather sit back and watch The Great British Baking Show.)

As many of you know I am a contributing editor at the Pulitzer Center where we recently launched a new platform "Speaking Out on Coronavirus" with stories and blogs from the Pulitzer Center community including our partner universities—students, alums, and faculty. One alum, now a physician, reflects from Seattle on the early days of the pandemic. Others report on the impact of school closings in Illinois, challenges in a refugee camp in Greece, the quiet that has overtaken New York streets, and barriers to online learning for students with disabilities.

You can find links to their stories here: https://pulitzercenter.org/projects/speaking-out-coronavirus