Lauren De Jesus

Masked Selfie of Lauren De Jesus against a blue floral background with the title

I love this mask because my abuela made it for me! She has utilized her sewing skills to create masks for our family and friends. Although people insist that she sell the masks, she refuses to. She says she does not make masks for profit and everyone should be protected.

I think by making and wearing masks, we challenge the concept of individualism as a U.S. value and shift to collectivism. COVID has shown us that we have a shared responsibility to one another, and it must go beyond this moment.

The COVID-19 Masking Project was developed by the UIC Latino Cultural Center (LCC) in partnership with the UIC Asian American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC) to engage students, faculty, staff, and community members in a creative and meaningful way during the COVID-19 pandemic.