COVID Survivors for Change
Committed to change and to each other.
Together, we CARE: Connect, Advocate, Raise Awareness, and Empower.
COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have had a loved one die from COVID-19, those who have survived the virus, and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address current needs and prevent future pandemics. Survivors will also find community and healing in connecting with other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic.
COVID Survivors for Change recently hosted a virtual Survivor Summit to train more than 70 survivors from 22 states on story sharing and advocacy. They released an open letter in support of the COVID relief bill with more than 500 survivors from 48 states, and held a virtual advocacy day in support of the bill. In 2020, COVID Survivors for Change hosted Empty Chair remembrances, including the first National COVID-19 Remembrance on the Mall in Washington D.C. with 20,000 empty chairs representing the lives taken by COVID, and several state remembrances (in WI, PA, MA, NM, SC, GA, and TX).
COVID Survivors for Change also released an open letter to President Trump signed by more than 800 survivors from 49 states, and trained more than 150 survivors from 30 states on advocacy. They shared hundreds of survivor stories across our Story Wall and social media platforms, and launched #EmptyChair & #LastGift public awareness campaigns on social media to encourage Americans to follow public health guidelines. Finally, we created COVIDconnections, a weekly online support session focused on grief, trauma, and healing that more than 90 survivors have attended.
COVID Survivors for Change offers free programs and resources and ways to get involved:
Share your COVID story on our Story Wall
Follow COVID Survivors for Change on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Sign up for email updates or join our Facebook discussion page here to learn about free trauma informed programs, resources, and advocacy and support trainings.
Sign up for COVIDconnections here, a free online support session focused on grief, trauma, and healing (Thursday at 9 pm ET). Each session is led by an expert in grief and trauma followed by small group discussions with other COVID survivors. Groups for Spanish language speakers here (Monday 9 pm ET) or for Long Haulers here (Saturdays 1 pm ET).
Check out our Survivor Resources website page that has information on resources and trauma