Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Kitra Cahana of Artists 4 Long-Term Care about the devastating impact of Covid-19 on long-term care homes and the role of visual art and poetry in responding to crisis.

The statistic is shocking: only 1 percent of Canadians live in a retirement or long-term care home, yet 69 percent of Covid-19 fatalities in Canada have occurred in these facilities.

Kitra Cahana is an award-winning photojournalist and the daughter of Rabbi Ronnie Cahana, who has lived in a long-term care home in Montreal since he experienced a massive brain stem stroke in 2011. Kitra joins us to share about her work, her family's story, and her latest project: Artists 4 Long-Term Care, an art and storytelling initiative to advocate for residents and workers in long-term care facilities during Covid-19 and beyond.

Kitra is a freelance documentary photographer, videographer, a photo/video artist and a TED speaker. She is a contributing photographer to National Geographic Magazine. She has a B.A. in philosophy from McGill University and a M.A. in Visual and Media anthropology from the Freie Universitat in Berlin.

Kitra is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including two Canada Council Grants for the Visual Arts, a 2016 TED Senior Fellowship, a 2015 Pulitzer Center for Investigative Reporting grant, a 2014-2015 artist residency at Prim Centre, the 2013 International Center of Photography’s Infinity Award, first prize for the 2010 World Press Photo, a scholarship at FABRICA in Italy and the Thomas Morgan internship at the New York Times.

Additional Resources:

• Artists 4 Long-Term Care: https://www.artists4longtermcare.org/
• Follow Artists 4 Long-Term Care on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artists4longtermcare/
• Kitra's website: https://kitracahana.com/
• Kitra's TED talks: https://www.ted.com/speakers/kitra_cahana/
• Follow Kitra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitracahana/

Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org

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