200255 For peace to flow like a river we need a durable bridge: Performance Text as call to action

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 8:30 AM

Geraldine Gorman, RN, PhD , College of Nursing at University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Administration, Chicago, IL
Sara Buck, MA , College of Nursing at University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Administration, Chicago, IL
The desire for hope and authentic change symbolized by the new administration in Washington is both far reaching and deep. In these times of financial crisis, however, it is essential not to lose sight of ‘yesterday's' issues and of all of us still affected by them: the casualties and wounded of ongoing wars, the uninsured and homeless, individuals and families trapped within a crumbling health care system. Performance ethnography combines critical theory and social action. Taking seriously the Public Health mandate for social justice, faculty and students at the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Nursing have been experimenting with the creation of Performance Texts, an innovative pedagogical technique which brings narratives of injustice to academic and community based audiences for the purpose of inciting them to action. Framing the individual story within a social context provides a bridge between performer and audience and involves both in a call to political engagement. In this session a faculty member and graduate student from UIC's College of Nursing will perform 2 texts which remind us that although change has come, the waters remain troubled indeed. The work of public health nursing is enhanced by bringing these stories to the community and by working together at affect real and durable change. For peace to flow, we must bridge the distance between story and politics, performer and audience, academia and community. Performance Texts remind us of our vital connection.

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate innovative strategy for building peaceful coalitions between universities and communities Describe how the use of the narrative incites action on behalf of larger issues of violence and war Identify the marginalized voices through use of the text

Keywords: Advocacy, Vulnerable Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have created and performed performance texts I am a public health educator and practitioner and have been active in anti-war advocacy and peace promotion. I am a Quaker.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.