How do we maintain a sense of possibility and moral purpose in an age of unbearable loss? What lessons of history or visions of tomorrow can help us today in contending with hate and injustice, the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, the attacks on democracy, the lethal march of war? When facing personal or professional troubles, where do we turn for balance and resolve?
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE: Town Halls on Mental Health (April 28-May 26) is a five-week series of virtual town halls, public conversations, and digital content on mental health. Informed by talks with 400+ WNET Community Partners, the series will examine mental health in our times from the perspectives of five groups of essential workers that help define American society: healthcare workers, K-12 teachers, mental health providers, activists, and journalists. The series will present frank talk about issues and solutions, with an understanding of history and eyes toward the future.
Livestreaming on Thursdays, 6:00-7:30 p.m. EDT, from April 28-May 26. Details and archives of video, below.
Presented by The WNET Group, America’s flagship PBS station, to engage diverse communities around issues that impact people throughout New York City and across the United States.
Curated by Brian Tate, Director of Community Partnerships, The WNET Group.
Promotional Partners
EYE OF THE STORM: A Conversation with Healthcare Workers About Mental Health
Week 1: Thursday, April 28, 6:00-7:30 p.m. EST
With Marina Del Rios, MD, MS, Nancy Hagans, RN, CCRN, Navdeep Kaur, RN, CCRN, Michelle Lee, MD, and Steven A. McDonald, MD. Moderated by Dr. Marwah Abdalla. Opening performance by Tamar-kali.
LESSON LEARNED: A Conversation With K-12 Teachers About Mental Health
Week 2: Thursday, May 5, 6:00-7:30 p.m. EST
With Lisa Casey (Winnebago Tribe), Benjamin Coria, Jia Lee, Dayniah Manderson, and Sobia Sheikh. Moderated by Dr. Debbie Almontaser. Opening performance by Paul Rucker.
TAKING TIME TO BREATHE: A Conversation with Mental Health Providers About Mental Health
Week 3: Thursday, May 12, 6:00-7:30 p.m. EST
With Dr. Leolani Ah Quin DBH, LCSW, Natalie Gutierrez, LMFT, Mona Masood, D.O., Sherry C. Wang, Ph.D., and Paul Bashea Williams, LCSW-C LICSW. Moderated by Dr. Danielle Hairston, MD. Opening performance by Erika Dohi.
THE ONLY OPTION IS ACTION: A Conversation with Activists About Mental Health
Week 4: Thursday, May 19, 6:00-7:30 p.m. EST
With Mike Ishii, Judith LeBlanc (Caddo Nation), Maru Mora-Villalpando, Vilissa Thompson, LMSW, and Nala Toussaint. Moderated by Brian Tate. Opening performance by Angel Nafis.
BREAK THE NEWS: A Conversation with Journalists About Mental Health
Week 5: Thursday, May 26, 6:00-7:30 p.m. EST
With Rowaida Abdelaziz, Sierra Clark (Kichi-wiiwedoong Anishinaabe Odawa), Jack Herrera, Sarah Belle Lin, and Dorothy Tucker. Moderated by Patrice Peck. Opening performance by Rez Abbasi.
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