Maria Walles begins the first session discussing routines around the time of the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. She discusses the Theatre of the Oppressed New York City (TONYC) and its support her after her husband passed away. Walles also spoke of the challenges she faced when she was homeless from 2007-2010 and various organizations that she works with to advocate for the unhoused. In regard t o COVID-19, Walles discusses masking and safety protocols, pandemic conditions in Marble Hill, and social distancing in different contexts.
In he second session, Walles expresses continued frustration about the lack of services that have been provided to homeless people during the pandemic and further describes her activism with Picture the Homeless and other organizations. She discusses the political situation, the election, and the Black Lives Matter protests. Other topics she addresses include vaccines, her daughter's remote learning, the use of Zoom, pandemic-related unemployment, and family
Community activists; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; COVID-19 (Disease)--Social Aspects; Epidemics--Social Aspects; Social distancing (Public health); Homeless persons--New York (State); United States Politics and government 21st century; Marble Hill (New York, N.Y.); Walles, Maria, 1970-
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
82 pages
Note (Biographical)
Maria Walles lives in the Marble Hill area of Manhattan. She has experienced homelessness and has two daughters. Walles has worked with the Theatre of the Oppressed NYC, Safety Net Activists, and Picture the Homeless
Note
Interviewed by Denise Milstein on May 16 and December 4, 2020
Note (Provenance)
Maria Walles, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023