Film Screening: Listen to Me–A Cinematic Journey of Maternal Health
What to Expect
In partnership with Central Cinema, Knoxville’s independent movie theater, KBMHC will host a screening of the acclaimed documentary Listen to Me, followed by a community discussion with local birth workers, scholars, and audience members.
This film is a story of four women and the cost of motherhood. These women stand at the frontlines of the Black maternal health struggle as birth workers and public health experts while walking the delicate tight rope through pregnancy.
This is a story of the deep complexities and troubling challenges black women experience when attempting to birth children in the United States.
Beyond dismal statistics, Listen to Me centers the joy, voices, and spirit of Black women.
Following the screening, we will be hosting a virtual Q&A with the filmmakers.
Focus: Awareness, Media Representation, Storytelling for Change
Venue: Central Cinema (1205 N Central St., Knoxville, TN 37917)
Meet Our Facilitators
Kanika Harris
Kanika Harris, PhD, MPH | CO-DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
Kanika Harris, PhD, MPH is a behavioral health scientist with a special focus on health equity, maternal health, and women’s health based in Washington, D.C. Kanika is a mother of three, a near-miss survivor, a doula, and a birth justice advocate. Kanika’s work broadly focuses on social determinants of health, women’s health, and HIV prevention. Kanika received her master’s degree in public health and international development from Morehouse School of Medicine and her doctorate in health behavior and health education from the University of Michigan. Kanika currently serves as the director of maternal and child health for the Black Women’s Health Imperative. She serves as the maternal health equity advisor for the state of Maryland and the public health expert for the District of Columbia Mayor’s Commission on Lactation. She is an advisory council member of Birth Detroit. Listen to Me is her first film.
Stephanie Etienne
Stephanie Etienne, CNM, MPH | CO-DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
Stephanie Etienne, CNM, MPH is a midwife based in Baltimore, Maryland. Her passion for reproductive justice was born from her work with the Community Birthing Project, a radical doula collective based in New York City in the early 2000. She earned her nursing and midwifery degrees from Columbia University. Stephanie serves on the boards of several organizations dedicated to reducing maternal and infant mortality in the African Diaspora including the National Association to Advance Black Birth (NAABB) and Foundation for the Advancement of Haitian Midwives (FAHM). She is also co-founder of The Bloom Collective, a Baltimore-based community space dedicated to reproductive justice and supporting perinatal health. Stephanie is a native New Yorker of proud Haitian descent. Her most cherished role is mama to 3 amazing humans. Listen to Me is her first film.
About Our Venue
Central Cinema is a community moviehouse located in the heart of North Knoxville’s Happy Holler neighborhood. As the city’s only independently owned theater, we offer a homegrown alternative to the corporate multiplex experience, keeping your moviegoing dollars in the hands of a team dedicated to celebrating both film and local culture.
Central Cinema was founded by the creators of the Knoxville Horror Film Fest, who have been programming film events locally since 2009. Years of sustained cultural momentum convinced us Knoxville deserved the type of eclectic film venue so many less-cool cities already enjoy. Hundreds of generous fans proved us right, contributing more than $30,000 to a GoFundMe campaign. After a year of fundraising and fine-tuning, we opened our doors in August 2018.
Reserve Your Seat!
This event is completely free to attend. We simply ask for you to RSVP!
