Film explores the importance of social connection in Northumberland County
The Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland Drug Strategy will debut a short film highlighting the recent Northumberland Unity Project at Venture 13 in Cobourg on Monday, November 18 at 7pm. The film screening is part of a special event hosted by Green Wood Coalition that will feature a talk by Dave Meslin, author of ‘Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy From the Ground Up’.
The Northumberland Unity Project was an interactive art installation that members of the public created on Saturday, September 14 to visibly demonstrate who makes up our community and how we’re connected. Participants tied colourful yarn to poles that reflected their identities through tags such as I love dogs, I’ve used a food bank, or I’m a newcomer to Canada. As each person’s yarn intertwined with others’, a colourful web rose up, illustrating the community’s diversity and inter-connectedness.
All of this was captured on film by award-winning filmmakers Megan Murphy and Jeremy Kelly. The ten minute movie captures the community spirit that was on display on as more than 100 people came to Rotary Park in Cobourg to weave a colourful web of unity. The film also features interviews with participants and community leaders reflecting on how social connection can serve as the antidote to the overdose crisis.
“The Unity Project showed how our community is diverse, but ultimately connected,” says Megan Deyman, Coordinator of the HKLN Drug Strategy. “We all have a role to play in responding to the overdose crisis and we can start by reducing the isolation that surrounds people who use drugs. Stigma continues to be a driving force behind the overdose crisis and prevents people from accessing the services and supports they need – and we have the power to change that.”
The themes explored by the Unity Project are also key to the work of author Dave Meslin. Meslin’s presentation at Venture 13 on November 18 will encourage those in attendance to find what is important to them and become active in the process of promoting change through creative participation.
“We’re thankful to Green Wood Coalition for hosting the Unity Project film as part of their special evening with Dave Meslin,” says Deyman. “The evening will be spent exploring the importance of engaged citizenship and building inclusive communities that everyone wants to be a part of.”
The Northumberland Unity Project was developed in partnership between the HKLN Drug Strategy, Green Wood Coalition, the HKPR District Health Unit, Transition House Emergency Shelter, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network and Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre.
This is a free ticketed event. Tickets can be reserved at: http://www.universe.com/events/dave-meslin-teardown-rebuilding-democracy-from-the-ground-up-tickets-7HDCP8?ref=explore&fbclid=IwAR0pjzEvnLAmBK_UMt84s264cfTgedl6QgKnY0JowHduQU-f-Li1R8RomZI
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
