Help SLC Refugees see Black Panther
"All children deserve to believe they can save the world, go on exciting adventures, or accomplish the impossible," - Fredrick Joseph, creator of the #BlackPantherChallenge.
It's difficult to imagine a population that is in need of this empowering message more than the children of immigrants and refugees - who face numerous environmental and health-related challenges, including low-quality housing, frequent relocation, and limited provision of legal rights and healthcare services.
This is why Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE), with the support of University of Utah's Black Student Union, is raising money to send 250 students from the Utah International Charter School to see Black Panther in theaters and will be providing information on the Lead Safe Housing Program. We hope that experiencing the amazing black leaders of Wakanda like the compassionate and thoughtful T'Challa, or the inventive and intelligent Shuri, will both inspire and empower these young individuals to re-affirm what their teachers communicate to them daily that, yes, they too can be tomorrows leaders when situations out of their control have suggested otherwise.
As Joseph states, "The release of...Black Panther is a rare opportunity for young students (primarily of color) to see a black major cinematic and comic book character come to life. This representation is truly fundamental for young people, especially those who are often underserved, unprivileged, and marginalized both nationally and globally."
Help us offer this empowering message to Utah's refugee youth, while we also work to provide them with educational and health resources concerning lead metal exposure hazards, which is a serious concern for underserved communities in Utah.
All additional funds will benefit the amazing students and teachers at the Utah International Charter School. Watch this video to become familiar with one of Salt Lake City's most transformative institutions.
Additional Information
Lead is a neurotoxin. While lead toxicity can result in a myriad of issues in the human body, including deafness and kidney failure, the most common effect of exposure is a drop in IQ and behavioral issues. Lead poisoning is the number one preventable disease among children, but the effects are irreversible and devastating to future relationships and earning potential. This makes it especially relevant for refugee communities, which already have a number of socioeconomic barriers to future success and who also may suffer disproportionately from lead exposure.
Students will also be provided with educational presentations, materials and games by UPHE and the Lead Safe Housing Program which will help empower them to understand how to protect themselves and their families from lead hazards, as well as provided resources to remediate lead hazards in homes that qualify through the Lead Safe Housing Program at no cost.
The Lead Safe Housing Program is part of a HUD initiative to reach underserved populations, like refugees, in the Salt Lake County area where there remain a high level of lead-based paint complexes in which these children can typically be housed.
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment is dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of the citizens of Utah by promoting science-based health education and interventions that result in progressive, measurable improvements to the environment.
Special Thanks:
University of Utah's Black Student Union for their support and guidance in this project.
Cost Breakdown:
250 students x $5 Tuesday Cinema Ticket
250 chaperones x $5 Tuesday Cinema Ticket
Total: $2500
