Everyone has a role to play in flattening the curve of COVID-19, which has halted daily routines, upended the economy, and taken thousands of lives. Yet, it is possible there are people who do not know their role, or do not know that there is a pandemic.

“If you don’t have access to the Internet or television, or if you don’t speak or read English, it’s possible you don’t have any idea that the coronavirus is a threat,” says Duchess Adjei, Regional Communication Director at the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross. “There are huge populations of people across Indiana who do not speak or read English, and it’s important that those individuals and families feel part of our extended communication strategy. Our goal is to help build an army—one that includes us all, encouraging all of us to commit to actions that may seem small, but that are truly powerful as we fight COVID-19.”

Many of us know of the American Red Cross through their blood drives, but the organization has been there to provide disaster relief since 1881. The Indiana chapter, founded in 1916, serving Indiana, and parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois, has followed in those footsteps and supported us through natural and other man-made disasters.

Now, they’re doing their part for the coronavirus, and they want us to do ours.

The Red Cross’ #DoingMyPart public awareness campaign supplements the State of Indiana’s recently launched #INThisTogether campaign by identifying tasks individuals can do in their daily lives to help combat COVID-19. The campaign was officially launched on April 13 with the website redcross.org/doingmypart.

  • Images from the Red Cross #DoingMyPart public awareness campaign.

To eliminate language barriers for Hoosiers navigating this public health crisis, as well as to spread awareness about the opportunities—and need—for everyone to participate in the fight against COVID-19, the Red Cross was generously supported by LUNA Language Services for translations of the campaign messages into at least six translated languages, including Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, French, Hakha Chin, and Spanish, which were selected based ondemographics across Indiana.

  • Images, including a Burmese language translation, from the Red Cross #DoingMyPart public awareness campaign.

“The whole organization has worked around the clock for weeks with all of our programs and services, so when I received a call from Kristin Hess at Innovatemap offering support, I was thrilled,” says Duchess.

“As a company, we have a ‘be good to the town’ motto, and this is a critical time to contribute to our community,” says Kristin. Innovatemap’s designers rolled up their sleeves to create digital imagery that would not only convey the PSA campaign messaging, but stand out in the crowd.

The Red Cross has prepared a communication campaign with commercials, media interviews, social media, and community partners. Messages will be disseminated to diverse audiences through partnerships with key organizations, such as the Immigrant Welcome Center, which communicates with nearly every immigrant-facing organization in the region.

The American Red Cross would like the tech community to help spread the word and participate in the campaign. Visit redcross.org/doingmypart and download the graphics and posts. Share how you are doing your part, or challenge someone else. Use the hashtag #DoingMyPart and tag the Red Cross on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.