The CDC Foundation is recognizing the critical role of the arts and culture in advancing public health outcomes. Through this project CONTRA-TIEMPO will partner with artists in 4 different states, California, Arizona, Georgia, and Florida.

Throughout our communities an understandable distrust of governmental, medical and public health institutions exists. Through this film project we will explore the contradictions and nuances of what it means to work, parent, lead and connect inside of the pandemic and what led our collaborators to make the decision to get vaccinated. So many of the stories we are hearing are rooted in a deep belief in the collective good. Through a collaborative creative process led by Artistic Director Ana Maria Alvarez and Filmmaker and Director Tiffany Judkins, artists from across the country will share their stories and experiences about the vaccine, exploring the fundamental question of: who did you get vaccinated for?

This grant is uplifting voices of artists who are making a difference in their respective communities and moving money back into the hands of artists of color, who have been disportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Community Partners include (this list continues to grow throughout the life of the project)

MUCE: Miami Urban Contemporary Experience (link to https://www.muce305.org)

Ashlee Katrice Thomas (Cultural Liaison for Miami)

Dorvilier Olivier (Miami)

Kara Janelle (Cultural Liaison for Atlanta)

Outcrowd (Phoenix)

Paco Colorado (Phoenix)

Ruby Morales (Cultural Liaison for Phoenix)

Amen Santos (Los Angeles)

Brasil Brasil Cultural Center (Los Angeles)

Stay tuned for more information about film screenings happening across the country in Spring 2022

For more information visit https://www.cdcfoundation.org/pr/2022/arts-and-cultural-organizations-build-vaccine-confidence

Films

An Artist Response to Injustice

A song for Solidarity. A poem to remember. So we never forget.

Jose Cano of Las Cafeteras was inspired to create this piece and bring others who were hurting into the process.

In collaboration with Jasmine Stanley, Ana Maria Alvarez, and Jannet Galdamez of CONTRA-TIEMPO.

Featuring Cecilia Cano, Ruby Morales, and Alan Perez.

Additional guests include members of Las Cafeteras, @conjuntobruja, Sonny Singh, Curtis, Samad Raheem Guerra, and Luca Alvarez-Lowe.

Directed by Luis Horacio Pineda.

Music by Jose Cano with guest Eddie Valenzuela.

This original piece is from the full evening-length version of joyUS justUS (2018) - this is a version created for audiences to experience virtually.

Credits

Music by Las Cafeteras

Performed and improvised by Jasmine Stanley and Dalphe Morantus

Choreography was a collaboration between Ana Maria Alvarez, Chris Cuenza, Samad Raheem Guerra, Dalphe Morantus, and Jasmine Stanley

Film by Kinship Filmworks / Tiffany Judkins

This Body is My body - Dance as resistance

Abortion bans are undoubtedly rooted in white supremacy and these abortion restrictions will disproportionately impact our BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, youth, and low income communities. This is a VIOLATION and the direct colonization of women’s bodies, reproductive rights, and liberty.

Although we are horrified at how the government continues to put into question peoples right to choose and make choices about their own body we dance, we shake, and we move as a form of resistance, as a form of embodying freedom, & conjuring justice.

A special thank you and loving shout out to our Urban Bush Women familia for showing us the My Body call and response that inspired the title of this community video.

Thank you to all who shared their brilliance, their bodies, their breath and their spirit to the making of this offering. May we continue to create, play, dance, come together, and listen to our bodies. May we keep moving together for our right to choose and to be the boss of our own future and body.

To read more from our founding director, Ana Maria Alvarez, about her response on the recent abortion laws, click here.