Earlier this year, an idea proposed by a local participant of a REACH diabetes support group was made into a Spanish-language community play to raise awareness about diabetes among the local Latino population. The play, which debuted this spring, is now returning, this time to southeast Seattle, an area disproportionately impacted by diabetes.
Tres Historias de la Vida (Three Life Stories), will be Saturday, November 18th at 2 p.m. at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S. Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98118. The play is free and open to the public.
Tres Historias de la Vida portrays the lives of three people with diabetes and their relationships with family and friends. Using Liberation Theater technique developed by Augusto Boal, the play relies on audience participation, empowering individuals to find ways to change their own lives.
Following past performances, audience members have stated that the play has helped raise awareness and their confidence to prevent and manage diabetes. ?I feel like I am in control of my health, and there are things that can be done every day to prevent diabetes,? said one audience member. ?I feel very motivated, and I have more knowledge about diabetes,? stated another.
The play is written by Lupita Patterson with idea from REACH participants. The acting is done by community volunteers from SeaMar?s REACH diabetes support group.
Sponsors of this showing are the King County REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) 2010 Coalition, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Public Health – Seattle & King County, Steps to Health King County, Consejo, Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers, Southeast Effective Development and the University of Washington?s Health Promotion Research Center.