Breaking the Outbreak: A Silicon Valley Gen-Z Approach
Members of Break the Outbreak’s Dublin chapter donate PPE to local restaurant Coco Cabana. (Break the Outbreak)
We are living in a time where resources are limited even in a developed country like America. As the pandemic goes on, we are learning ways to adapt and overcome some of the struggles people face. One such example: limited protective gear supply. To tackle this issue, a group of Bay Area teens decided to take matters in their own hands. Their small, Dublin-started operation soon transformed into a sprawling 501(c)(3) nonprofit called Break the Outbreak, providing masks and face shields to establishments across the country.
“We have to ensure that COVID-19 does not endanger more members of our community,” said BTOB founder and CEO Sky Yang.
Break the Outbreak quickly gained traction among Dublin’s restaurants and farmers’ markets, but that wasn’t enough for Sky. He developed teams in San Ramon, Livermore, Beverly Hills and beyond, donating more than 4,000 face shields and masks to nearly every city in the Bay Area.
Creating quality face masks was a difficult journey at first. Not only did the equipment have to be safe to use, but also comfortable to wear and accessible to all. Before distributing their first batch of masks, BTOB members spent weeks testing out the products themselves. Once perfected, their Chief Creative Officer, Nephi Calladine, helped create a detailed video with instructions for everyone.
Beyond donations, the nonprofit also plays a key role in educating the community and preventing misinformation. Saivishnu Tulugu, Director of Medical Informatics, says education is pivotal.
“I’m passionate about harnessing scientific knowledge to educate the people in my community about the intricacies of the pandemic,” Saivishnu says. “During this time few people/organizations have taken the time to explain WHY we should wear a mask and how exactly COVID-19 spreads. That is a fundamental value of the Medical Informatics team at Break the Outbreak.”
To address Bay Area’s concerns about lockdown restrictions, Break the Outbreak’s Director of Media Outreach, Kanchan Naik, hosted a podcast featuring Dublin’s Vice Mayor, Arun Goel. They discussed Break the Outbreak’s impact, Dublin’s response to the virus, and the ongoing debate over mask usage.
“It was a wonderful experience,” Kanchan says. “I’m so glad Mr. Goel and other local leaders care about what young people have to say. Working for Break the Outbreak both requires and creates strength. Although we can’t be on the frontlines aiding victims like healthcare and sanitation workers, young people still have a responsibility towards raising awareness and keeping our communities safe.”
If you believe in Break the Outbreak’s story and want to help them prosper, please contribute to their GoFundMe campaign.
