Available now: “de-isolation: Voices from a small town in the early days of Covid”

This summer, the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement at Luther College invited the Decorah and Luther communities to submit their essays, stories and poems, reflecting on a world with coronavirus for a printed anthology, available now for purchase.

"As the pandemic has impacted - directly or indirectly - every community, including our own, the project was intended to provide a forum for creative explorations of the event, how it challenged and changed us, and where we go from here," said Sören Steding, project lead and professor of German.

The resulting book contains 30 contributions on 120 pages, including texts by Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski and Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward, and is now available for $10 at the Luther Book Shop and Dragonfly Books in Decorah. All proceeds will benefit the Decorah Community Food Pantry.

"This book could be an interesting record of these very unusual times, a reminder of the thoughts and emotions within our community when we experienced the pandemic as new and extraordinary," said Steding. "It is also a document of the creativity within our community and of the many ways a single event can be artistically perceived and transformed."

The Luther College project team, which includes Victoria Christman, professor of history; Rachel Faldet, assistant professor of English; and Steding would like to thank all authors and all who supported the project.

Luther College is home to more than 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

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