North Carolina Central University, in partnership with Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute, will host a play, “A Crisis of Moments,” to air at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, on Vimeo.
The 1 1/2 hour theatrical performance is an ethnodrama, raising awareness and understanding concerning the serious health risks communities face during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The play aims to share experiences of people impacted by COVID-19, increase knowledge of the virus and encourage precautionary health-related behavior so people can make informed decisions about their health risk and participation in research,” said Dr. Undi Hoffler, director, Research Compliance & Technology Transfer at NCCU.
Playwright Dasan Ahanu, author of “A Crisis of Moments,” said the purpose of the play is to foster understanding of the serious health issues facing communities of color. The play was directed by Dr. Stephanie Asabi M. Howard, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance and NCCU students from the department participated in the production.
“The goal is to make sure that individuals who are often most affected have the information they need,” Ahanu said. “We also know that communities of color have been hit very hard by COVID. Due to complicating factors, the rates of occurrences and deaths have been higher for people of color. We want to make sure to present that perspective so that our communities feel seen and heard.”
A live panel discussion will follow the play, featuring health professionals and epidemiologists from the Triangle region.
Funding for the project is provided by NCCU’s Advanced Center for COVID-19 Related Disparities (ACCORD).
The performance, which is free, will air on Vimeo. A link is available here: https://vimeo.com/event/553790.
Entering a second year of programming, the NCCU-Duke CTSI collaboration provides is focused on ensuring that people living in high-risk communities have the necessary information to make informed, responsible health decisions, particularly when dealing with health disparities that are ravaging the population at alarming rates.
Audience members for the ethnodrama will have an opportunity to participate in a research survey to assess knowledge, attitudes, and health-related behavior regarding COVD-19.
This is the second ethnodrama production for the partners. A performance last year focused on cervical cancer. For questions, please contact Crystal Taylor at [email protected].
