The Albany Law Literary Circle (ALLC) was created in light of the COVID-19 crisis and is a program that is proving to be essential in fostering togetherness. The ALLC executive team recognizes the need for the Albany Law community to stay safe, stay conversational, and, most importantly, stay connected. Using Zoom for remote meetings, GroupMe, and social media, ALLC has used technology to catalyze its growth and build its circle community. The first summer session brought together members from all backgrounds of the Albany Law community: incoming first-year students, professors, the Deans, staff, current students, and alumni. Such a diverse mix of generational and experiential perspective deeply enriches the program.
As the Covid-19 crisis has confined us to our homes, the ALLC believes it is important to provide a space where the Albany Law community can come together and keep their sense of connection. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Coping with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
As the new semester starts, we are looking forward to growing our club to include events such as happy hour discussions, movie watch parties, and expanding our literature to include genres such as short stories, which are easier to read during the school year. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, Julia, or my colleagues, Mina, Andrea, and Shabena. We hope to meet you soon and can’t wait to start reading with you!