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LIFE HEIST: Stealing Hope While Surviving Diabetes and Homelessness

  • The Capri Theater 2027 West Broadway Avenue Minneapolis United States (map)

zAmya Theater Project and the Diabetes + Homelessness Research Team Present

Life Heist graphic1.png

When chronic illness meets homelessness we must get creative to meet the challenges that a worldwide pandemic, overworked and underfunded everything presents. It is time for a heist. Ocean's Eleven meets the actual decline of western civilization?

About the Creation of LIFE HEIST

People who are homeless die of preventable causes, including diabetes, at younger ages than their housed peers. LIFE HEIST is inspired by the research of a team working with Dr. Katherine Diaz Vickery at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute called Diabetes Homeless Medication Support (D-Homes).

Members of the team hold knowledge derived from living with type 2 diabetes, experiencing homelessness or housing instability, as service providers, community engagement facilitators, and/or academic researchers. The research aims to design a coaching program to better support people experiencing homelessness and type 2 diabetes.

Through captivating performances and creative collaboration workshops, zAmya Theater builds understanding and connection between citizens who have experienced homelessness and those who have not.

Together, zAmya Troupe Members and research team members collaborated to create LIFE HEIST — an original play in a unique experiment between participatory theater and community-engaged research that aims to challenge your perceptions about both diabetes and homelessness.

Creative Team
Written by Jon Mac Cole & ensemble
Directed by Maren Ward
Music by Carlisle Evans Peck 
Choreography by Lelis Brito 
Company Management - Esther Ouray 

Performed by zAmya Theater Troupe & Diabetes + Homelessness Research Team Members:
Edward Adair, Marcia Barnes, Annette Bryant, Ali Cia Anderson Campbell, Alphonse Carr, Moncies Franco, Susan Gust, Denita Ngwu, Tahiti Robinson, Kate Diaz Vickery

Reservations
This is a free event and open to all. Reservations are encouraged. A limited number of seats will be available at the door for walk-ups.

Safety
For the safety of guests, performing artists and staff, The Capri Theater follows all current Stay Safe Minnesota guidelines for entertainment and meeting venues.

Accessibility
Learn more about accessibility at The Capri Theater: thecapri.org/visit/accessibility. If you have specific questions or need accessibility services not listed, please contact Esther at esther@zamyatheater.org or 612-760-4804.

Transportation
Bus tokens are available by request at the performance. A limited number of cab rides will be available by request. Call or text 612-245-2020 to reserve cab rides by 11 am, Friday, August 27.

This work is supported and funded by the Program for Health Disparities Research and the Office for Business & Community Economic Development (OBCED) Community Health Initiative (CHI), University of Minnesota. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the University of Minnesota. Dr. Vickery’s time and the research is funded by the National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23DK118117.

Earlier Event: August 20
Act for Change at Dorothy Day!
Later Event: September 7
zAmJam! Public Online Workshop