In recognition of Black Women’s History Month, PassinArt will highlight two major Black women’s health topics in April – healthy Black birthing and healthy Black aging and memory. The community event – Black Women’s Wellness – elevates the issues with two staged productions, post-play conversations, resource tables and opportunities for community building.
As a collaboration with Beirut Wedding World Theatre Project, Roberta Hunte’s PUSH: Black Mamas Changing the Culture of Birth will take the stage for the second time.
Co-Created by Dr. Roberta Suzette Hunte and Beirut Wedding, PUSH is a devised theatre piece portraying the realities of black maternal health disparities in Oregon and ways people are working for change. It is informed by the narratives and expertise of Black doulas, public health workers, midwives, birthing people, researchers, and home visitors.
In summer 2024, Dr. Hunte collaborated with Bobby Bermea and Jamie Rea of Beirut Wedding to present a first staged reading of Push. PassinArt is excited to present the next iteration of the devised piece as part of Black Women’s Wellness Event to highlight the urgency of the Black maternal health crisis, and the opportunities for sustainable lifesaving alternatives.
Memory Walks is a staged reading representing a sampling of experiences of participants in Raina Croff’s study on memory and wellness known as the SHARP Project.
Created by Dr. Raina Croff, Memory Walks is a brand new staged reading culled from over 400 walking oral history narratives on Black life and aging in Portland which have been collected through the Sharing History through Active Reminiscence and Photo-imagery study (SHARP).
SHARP aims to maintain or improve cognitive health among older African Americans through increasing physical and social activity and is culturally celebratory. Walkers’ neighborhood stories contribute to an oral history digital archive. Memory Walks brings these stories to life through the theater.
2201 Lloyd Center – the Ulta Space, Portland OR 97232
Opportunities to connect with health providers and members of the community round out the two-day event. The event is free; registration is required.
Agenda
12:00 PM: Doors Open
12:30 PM: PUSH: Black Mamas Changing the Culture of Birth
1:30 PM: PUSH Post Show Discussion
2:00 PM: Resources and Community Building
2:30 PM: Memory Walks: The SHARP Project – Honoring Health and History
3:30 PM: Memory Walks: Post Show Discussion
4:00 PM: Community Resources and Tables
