NHSJ Symposium on Arts, Health and Narrative: Spoken Word as Artistry and Activism

Event: 7 – 9 pm FREE and open to all, must RSVP to attend
Dinner: 6-7 pm (Optional, $25, payable only by check)

The Narrative, Health and Social Justice Seminar is excited to announce its 2nd annual Symposium on Arts, Health and Narrative.  This year we will bring artistic voices together with members of the healthcare and health humanities communities to engage in dialogue about how art and activism can work collaboratively with narrative, health and social justice.  During our session we will explore Spoken Word as a genre that invites audience engagement, points toward advocacy, and has roots in empowering traditionally marginalized or suppressed narratives.  After the artist presentations we will have a community discussion and collaboratively explore next steps that can be taken in this kind of arts, health, and narrative community building partnership.

We invite you to join us for a powerful and inspiring evening!

Akua Doku is a Ghanaian-American poet whose fierce poetry talks about love and fear, life and pain, but in such a realistic way that there is no room for misinterpretation. She’s“the first female Slam Champion” of the Austin International Poetry Festival and has been featured at the Toronto International and NYC-Urbana Poetry Slams as well as numerous other prestigious venues. In addition to her poetry, Akua has worked on several short films and theatrical plays which include “Arrested”, “Life is Short Wear Your Party Pants”, and “Life is Short, Cherish Every Moment.”

Caroline Rothstein is a New York City-based writer, performer, body empowerment advocate, and arts educator. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Narratively, xoJane, The Huffington Post, The Jewish Daily Forward, and elsewhere. She hosts the YouTube series “Body Empowerment,” and sits as President of the Board of Directors for Mental Fitness, Inc. She has an M.S. from Columbia’s School of Journalism.

Caridad De La Luz is a Bronx-born performer known as LA BRUJA. She is considered one of America’s leading spoken word poets. In 2013 she was honored with The Edgar Allan Poe Award for excellence in writing from The Bronx Historical Society. The New York Times called her “a Juggernaut” after the off-Broadway run of her musical Boogie Rican Blvd. After her performance on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam she was also featured on HBO Latino’s installment of HABLA Women. She has just completed a run in the off-Broadway production of the original musical “Betsy!”

Please RSVP to [email protected] by May 7th

We are committed to inclusivity and accessibility. If you require disability accommodations please contact Cameron, at the above address, by May 5th.