On today's show, Adrian and Ethan discuss The Navajo Nation's struggle with the pandemic and some of the contributing factors. Later they take a look at smartwatches for kids - are they safe?
in the face of this pandemic, the inequities that exist in our society become even more apparent. The situation in the Navajo Nation today makes this blatantly clear.
As of 14 June, 6,611 cases have been confirmed. More than 300 people have died after contracting the virus as well - a toll higher than 15 states.
The Navajo Nation, the largest reservation of its kind, is a 27,413 square-mile tribal reservation with a population of around 200,000, covering parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. A population of nearly 200,000 live within its borders.
As coronavirus has swept through the reservation, it has underscored many of the social and economic inequalities that continue to affect the tribe - all contributing to one another, and all making the outbreak worse.
The reservation's unemployment rate is approximately 40%, and a similar number live below the poverty line, earning less than $12,760 a year. A third of households have no access to running water or electricity. Many lack internet access.
Sarah Shapiro and Skye Loventhal Started a Virtual Tutoring Service
Los Angeles 17-year-olds, Sarah Shapiro and Skye Loventhal, did not let the quarantine stop them from pursuing their studies and coming up with a strategy to help others.
The two highly-driven juniors from Granada Hills Charter School created a website called the Covid NineTEEN Project, recruiting nearly 100 tutors to mentor nearly 300 kids in first through fifth grades across the globe. Their organization provides free teen-led activities and one-on-one tutoring meant to support elementary school students. The high school student mentors help keep children motivated and take stress off of parents.
Shaivi Shah is Giving Away Hundreds of Free Sanitation Kits to Homeless People
This 15-year-old girl is helping to protect some of California’s most vulnerable people from the dangers of the novel coronavirus outbreaks.
Shaivi Shah has rallied her fellow honor society students into helping her give away more than 250 low-cost “sanitation kits” to homeless shelters around Los Angeles. Each kit contains hand sanitizer, lotion, antibacterial soap, and handmade reusable face masks to help homeless people stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shaivi has since launched a GoFundMecampaign to raise additional funds for expanding her initiative outside of Los Angeles. The page has already raised more than $13,000 in nine days.
Group of Teens in Phoenix Help Navajo Nation During Coronavirus Pandemic
After hearing about how Native Americans have been suffering from the virus at much higher rates, 17-year-olds Ben Richardson and Max Goldstein, 16-year-olds Caroline Purtill and Alex Goldstein, and 13-year old Sierra Goldstein decided to do join forces and do something about it.
They put together a foundation called the Navajo Nation Supply Project and started a GoFundMe page. They thought they would raise about $1,000. Today, that foundation has raised over $17,000.
