We all have a favorite mask. Maybe it's the color, maybe it's the first. Or maybe, it's the story that accompanies the excellent composition and look of #YOUva masks!
Nest Partnership
In the fall of 2020, the #YOUva team partnered with Nest—a partnership made possible thanks to the generous donation of a UVA alumna, parent, and supporter. In turn, the Nest team connected us with a small business in Guatemala. After collaborative discussion and design, Guatemalan artisans produced 5,000 sustainably made and custom-designed masks.
Hand-crafted with care, these masks are a tangible representation of a bond that can form, across the world, even during a time of physical distancing, between multiple parties who aim to promote safe practices surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
These fitted masks are made of cotton and were designed to fit snugly around the nose and chin. To aid with the fit, the straps includes toggles in order to tighten or loosen the masks depending on one’s head shape and size. A QR code has been screen printed into the inside of the mask, which will direct you to this page (welcome!), which contains more information about #YOUva, Nest, and the small business who created the masks.
From everyone on the #YOUva team, we are grateful to have had the opportunity to distribute these masks to various student groups, staff, and faculty around Grounds, with the hope that the value and uniqueness of each mask is noted and serves as an incentive to continue remaining safe. 2020 was a challenging year, but the UVA community proved its resilience over the fall semester, and we know that it will continue to do so in the future. We also encourage you to find out what other programs Nest is up to as they build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion to the handmade economy.
#YOUva Highlights
- Our team partnered with University Communications before the fall of 2020 to create a video welcoming students back to Grounds and to help set COVID-19 and public health expectations. We also partnered with local Corner merchants!
- We helped host the #CavScav challenge, prizes included gift cards and Nest masks!
- We designed and added #YOUva posters on UVA ITS transit buses.
- Our team was at saliva testing locations during March Madness 2021, giving away Nest masks during the week of March 15th. Come say hi!
- Have you heard about Brighter Together? Learn more about these shows and how #YOUva students helped with the planning.
- We're in the news! Read our UVAToday and Envision stories, and watch us on CBS19.
What's #YOUva?
#YOUva is a peer-to-peer public health initiative to promote healthy practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to keep UVA and the Charlottesville community safe.