CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is partnering with Fellowship Chicago and the Health Care Council of Chicago (HC3) to host a film screening of Tipping The Pain Scale, highlighting the innovative solutions and change agents in the addiction and recovery world making a difference across the country. The screening on Thursday, June 23, at Fellowship Chicago 4543 S. Princeton will be followed by a discussion about Chicago's overdose and addiction crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This free community screening represents a new approach to how we can understand and provide solutions to the addiction crises that many struggle with every day,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “With Tipping the Pain Scale, we not only see how individuals are dealing with addiction in their communities, but also importantly, how community leaders can work together to provide the resources needed to help ease the hold substances have on their lives.”

Tipping The Pain Scale follows individuals grappling with the current systemic failures of how we have dealt with addiction in communities and their journey to develop and employ new, and often controversial solutions to the problem. It is a quasi-anthology, weaving characters through their own stories as they connect to the issues plaguing all communities and the country in an urgent fight to save lives. It is a positive and uplifting, yet gritty and real, story of redemption and hope in cinema verité style.

“With the support of our community partners, we can more effectively drive purposeful and meaningful conversations surrounding the overdose and addiction crisis that we are experiencing in our city,” said Allison Arwady, M.D., Commissioner of CDPH. “We as a city are in this together, and will continue doing what’s necessary to save lives and create lasting solutions for this crisis.

The film features Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, NFL Pro Bowl Player Darren Waller, Spoken Word Artist, and Educator Joseph Green, Washington State Representative Lauren Davis, Community Outreach Volunteer Roz Pichardo, Boston Police Officer Josh De La Rosa, and an original score from Grammy award-winner, Brendan Berry, as well as featuring music from Sia.

“Solving the complex addiction crisis in communities requires diverse sectors of society to come together, including public health and faith,” said Greg Williams. “The film team is so excited to collaborate with CDPH on this event and conversation that we won’t spend much time talking about the problem, but where do go from here, and what can we all do to play a role in turning the tide on this often-forgotten pandemic impacting more than 40 million Americans and their families directly."

“It is imperative to acknowledge the role that community partnerships have in helping create substantial change for our City,” said Walonza Lee, Program Director, Office of Substance Use, CDPH. The Chicago Department of Public Health is committed to supporting and collaborating with community organizations to continue doing the critical work necessary to save lives and create meaningful solutions for crises in our city, such as overdose and addiction.

This community event will feature a panel discussion with subjects from the film, including Lauren Davis, Washington State Representative (D-32nd District), Joseph Green, Spoken Word Artist and Educator, and Roz Pichardo, Philadelphia-based Community Outreach Volunteer, as well as the film’s producer, Greg Williams, and the Executive Director of Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition (CRCC), Dora Dantzler-Wright.

“The addiction crisis in America and Chicago has reached a new level of devastation as COVID-19 further isolated individuals suffering from mental health and substance use challenges,” said Meghan Phillipp, Executive Director of HC3. “It is urgent for all health, business, faith, policy, and community stakeholders to come together for important discussions about the cross-sector things we can do to save lives. This extraordinary film provides us a wonderful platform for that solution-oriented conversation.”

For those interested in attending this free event can register now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/323503917927.

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About Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) works with communities and partners to create an equitable, safe, resilient, and Healthy Chicago, so that everyone in Chicago thrives and achieves optimal health and wellness. Learn more at www.chicago.gov/cdph.

About Fellowship Chicago

Fellowship Chicago is a historic multigenerational church committed to sharing and showing the gospel of Jesus Christ through acts of love and generosity with a dedication to individual growth and social transformation through worship, arts, and intentional ministry. Learn more at www.fellowshipchicago.com.

About The Health Care Council of Chicago (HC3)

The Health Care Council of Chicago (HC3) is Chicago’s nationally recognized health care community in action. The organization harnesses the collective intelligence and resources of Chicago’s health care leaders to drive meaningful change and positively influence the conditions that impact the health of the area’s communities. The Health Care Council of Chicago is an initiative managed by Third Horizon Strategies. Visit https://www.hc3.health for more information