Why connection is needed now more than ever.

Hi all! While it’s been a while since my last post I wanted to check in as well as provide a few updates of my own. To start off, COVID-19 has gotten a number of us shaken up and concerned. We went from a week or so ago living our day to day lives to swiftly shifting to social distancing, stocking up on supplies, and trying to determine how our jobs and schools will function. It’s been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, but please know that you’re not alone in your thoughts.

In the midst of everything that’s going on being grounded in faith, taking proper precautions and making time for yourself and your loved ones is so important. With the impact of the virus, it’s unnerving to see the level of social and economic inequities that exist in our society, but it’s so important to understand it because we’re able to see how communities of color and lower-income communities often are the ones that experience the most long-standing effects of a crisis. It’s why representation matters in every way.

Earlier this month for International Women’s Day I competed in a pitch competition that celebrated women entrepreneurs; especially women of color. It was amazing to witness a community made up predominantly of women come together to gather funds and support us in our endeavors to grow our businesses which empower communities that tend to be an afterthought. I was fortunate to win the event and truly enjoyed being in such a setting devoted to connecting and uplifting one another.

Over the past few days, I’ve seen amazing acts of connection. Whether it’s one of my closest friends who’s a nurse work tireless hours to care for patients, store employees take extra care in delivering groceries to the elderly, and businesses provide grants to small businesses strapped for funds to colleagues providing meals to school children who now can’t attend school and artists and influencers perform free virtual concerts and work out routines to boost morale.

We truly need connection and upliftment now more than ever and though we’re all feeling varying degrees of emotions and it’ll be awhile before things shift back to some form of normalcy, I urge you all to stay connected and I hope that we can each take a moment to uplift one another.

Be on the lookout for some upcoming content pieces that dives further into a number of the topics I shared. In the meantime take care!

Best Regards,

Flora Ekpe-Idang

Founder & CEO | Corage Dolls