Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network partners with Milwaukee Film to tackle health issues in diverse communities
Acclaimed films, engaging community forums and nationally-renowned guest speakers will lead the inaugural Minority Health Film Festival, presented by Milwaukee Film and the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network, Sept. 12-15.
The first of its kind in the country, this four-day event features eight unique health-related film selections, a free interactive community-focused health fair, and additional community forums and panel discussions – all related to advancing public health in diverse communities.
“The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network’s vision is to be the trusted leader by transforming health care and connecting communities to the best of academic medicine,” said Heidi Moore, director of Emerging Markets and Inclusion at Froedtert Health. “This partnership and the events of the Minority Health Film Festival allow us to directly engage with diverse populations in our local neighborhoods.”
Over the course of the weekend, “A Healthy You: Resource Fair & Community Forums” will spark conversation on key topics including children’s health and well-being, financial fitness and building trust with the medical community.
“A Healthy You: Resource Fair & Community Forums” gives us the opportunity to take real action toward that vision. The fair and forums allow us to connect with community members in unique ways. Throughout the weekend, our providers and staff members will watch films, participate in health-related activities, and engage in dialogue with community members. The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network is committed toward a healthier you, a healthier us, and a healthier community.”
Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio program “The Breakfast Club” and New York Times bestselling uses his platform as a social media influencer and popular podcaster (“Brilliant Idiots”) to discuss his mental health struggles, particularly anxiety, as part of a moderated discussion at Turner Hall on Sept. 12.
“Openly discussing issues of mental, emotional, and physical health was once taboo in communities of color, and still is to a certain extent,” states Geraud Blanks, Black Lens and community festivals director at Milwaukee Film. “However, mediums like film allow us to engage and share very personal stories we might not otherwise—inspiring much-needed conversations about health and healing. That’s what this film festival is all about, sharing experiences and learning from one another.”
Films include Steve James’ powerful and award-winning documentary The Interrupters, examining urban violence in a Chicago neighborhood over the course of a year, and the locally produced Save Me, exploring mental and emotional health in Milwaukee’s Hmong community. Both will feature post film screening panel discussions with local topic experts from Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, community experts, and representatives from other key sponsors. All films will be shown at Milwaukee Film’s Oriental Theatre.
Additional featured speakers include Styles P of the acclaimed rap trio The LOX, and Harriet Washington, an award-winning medical writer, medical ethicist, and author.
Milwaukee Film and the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network are grateful for support from a host of sponsors.
Minority Health Film Festival, Featuring A Healthy You: Resource Fair & Community Forums
Saturday, September 14
Kenilworth Square 2155 Prospect Ave.
HAVE A LITTLE FAITH (AND HEALING) | 11:30 A.M.
Whether you consider yourself a “person of faith,” learn how spirituality and recovery go hand in hand.
Sponsored by: UnitedHealthcare
FINANCIAL FITNESS | 11:30 A.M.
As a part of ongoing discussions around social determinants of health, we address how your financial wellness aspects your physical and mental health.
Sponsored by: United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County in partnership with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, RIGHT? | 1 P.M.
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin leads a community conversation around issues of behavioral, mental, and emotional wellness specifically for youth/teens.
Sponsored by: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE | 1 P.M.
Leading practitioners in trauma-related mental health disorders will discuss the effects of various types of trauma, with an emphasis on healing and recovery.
JUICING FOR LIFE | 3 P.M.
A discussion on the benefits of juicing in communities of color with national recording artist Styles P, owner of New York juice bar Juices for Life; and JoAnne & Maanaan Sabir, owners of local fresh juice cafe The Juice Kitchen.
AFTERSHOCK: THE EFFECT OF VIOLENCE ON MENTAL HEALTH | 3 P.M.
Exploring the lifelong emotional and mental health consequences of exposure to violence.
Sunday, September 15
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN – CANCER ADVISORY BOARD | 11:30 A.M.
The Back Room @ Colectivo, 2211 N. Prospect Ave.
A discussion addressing the cancer burden faced by those living in eastern Wisconsin.
THE ART OF MENTAL HEALTH | 1 P.M.
The Back Room @ Colectivo, 2211 N. Prospect Ave.
National recording artist Styles P joins a panel of creatives who use writing, music, photography, and other art forms to provide mental and emotional healing.
LEGACIES OF MISTRUST: MINORITES AND MEDICAL RESEARCH | 5 P.M.
UWM Union Ballroom 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
A panel featuring The All of Us Research Program, a historic effort to gather data from 1 million or more people living in the United States to accelerate research and improve health.
LEGACIES OF MISTRUST | 6 P.M.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: HARRIET WASHINGTON
UWN Union Ballroom 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
Requires ticket to attend. Purchase at mkefilm.org/mh
The award-winning medical writer and author of the best-selling book, Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, Harriet Washington deconstructs the politics around medical issues, chronicling the origins of “scientific racism” in the United States.
Sponsored by: All of Us Research Program Medical College of Wisconsin
About Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin supporting a shared mission of patient care, innovation, medical research and education. Our health network operates eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center and adult Level I Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, an internationally recognized training and research center engaged in thousands of clinical trials and studies. The Froedtert & MCW health network, which includes five hospitals, more than 1,700 physicians and nearly 40 health centers and clinics, draws patients from throughout the Midwest and the nation. In our most recent fiscal year, outpatient visits exceeded 1.1 million, inpatient admissions to our hospitals were 52,483 and visits to our network physicians totaled 979,143. For more information, visit froedtert.com.
About Milwaukee Film
Milwaukee Film is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to entertaining, educating, and engaging our community through cinematic experiences, with a vision to make Milwaukee a center for film culture. Milwaukee Film operates the magnificent Oriental Theatre, a historic cinema palace committed to high-quality and accessible film and education programming. The 11th annual Milwaukee Film Festival will take place Oct. 17-31, 2019. For more information or to become a member, visit mkefilm.org.
Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio program “The Breakfast Club” and New York Times bestselling uses his platform as a social media influencer and popular podcaster (“Brilliant Idiots”) to discuss his mental health struggles, particularly anxiety, as part of a moderated discussion at Turner Hall on Sept. 12.
