Join us for a Reel Talk screening of "Move Me" presented in partnership with Indie-Lens Pop Up and stay after the film for a talk back with local disability justice advocates Sonya Hill, Caroline Hughes, Vanessa Williams, and Nicole Marquez!
About "Move Me":
Beneath the waters of Lake Superior, off the shore of Wisconsin, Kelsey Peterson underwent a transformation. On the eve of Independence Day 2012, she dove in and hit the lake bottom headfirst, suffering a life-altering spinal cord injury that takes away both function and sensation from the chest down, essentially robbing Kelsey of her self-identities as an athlete and dancer.
Alongside peers and allies in the spinal cord injury community, she seeks to answer the question “Who am I now?” As she grapples with the ebb and flow of hope and acceptance, Kelsey talks to researchers and meets with people who belong to this community and who help give her the strength and the will to return to dance. When a cutting-edge clinical trial surfaces, it tests her expectations and her faith in the possibility of a cure, forcing her to evaluate the limits of her recovery—in body and spirit.
Sonya Shorty Hill is a Gentilly resident here in New Orleans. She lost her left leg below the knee nearly three years ago due to a drunk driver while driving along interstate 610. Sonya is a member of the National Amputee Coalition as a Certified Peer Visitor and for the National Advocacy for Amputees Group. Since 2017, she has been a member of Ashe’ and Sistahs Making a Change. She quotes this poem by S.Bibb: “No matter what conditions look like around you, keep on believing, Keep on persisting, keep on going, keep on growing…just like the Wildflowers grow wherever they choose, no matter the conditions, Be and becoming all that you were created to Be and become.”
Caroline Hughes was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama and has been a New Orleans resident since 2015. She completed her baccalaureate degree in Hospitality Management in Pensacola, FL from the University of West Florida. The service industry left her feeling unfulfilled, so she signed up for a 400 hour yoga teacher training program at Swan River to study the practice that helped her holistically treat anxiety. Caroline started teaching yoga to people with disabilities in 2016 which inspired her to go back to school to become a physical therapist assistant. She is currently working at Split Second Fitness as a PTA and yoga teacher, which is the only accessible gym in the state of Louisiana for people with disabilities. She also trains yoga teachers on how to teach adaptive yoga. Follow her on Instagram at @caroline.hughes.yoga for more information on her offerings or go to www.carolinehugs.com
Vanessa Williams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a wife and mother to two kids, grandmother to 23 grandkids and caretaker of many. Williams’ ultimate goal is “to spread love to each and everyone.” Her biggest achievements are retirement, traveling all around the world, and seeing her kids and grandkids succeed at life.
Nicole Marquez is a brain and spinal injury survivor, advocate, performer, board member. Almost 11 years ago, Nicole moved to New York to pursue her dreams of dancing on Broadway. Her dreams were cut short after an accident that almost took her life. She fell 6 stories from the roof of my apartment building. Nicole survived and is alive, because of this, she believes that it is her duty to move forward and show others that yes, sometimes horrible things happen in our lives. BUT it is ABSOLUTELY possible to find hope, get your happiness back, and live a joyful existence despite whatever disabilities you possess. She has a strong motivational speaking career, while also regaining her dance career, sharing (through her own experiences), what it's like living life after a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, with groups of all ages around the country.
About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together—virtually and in person—for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's INDEPENDENT LENS, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations together to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics, to family and community relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. For more information, visit pbs.org/independentlens/indie-lens-pop-up
About INDEPENDENT LENS
INDEPENDENT LENS is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly PBS series airing Monday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET. The acclaimed series, with Lois Vossen as executive producer, features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from Acton Family Giving, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation: facebook.com/independentlens and on Twitter @IndependentLens.