“Get Ahead of Life Before Life Gets Ahead of You,” delves into Sista Creatives Rising’s co-creator, Claire Jones, and her 2022 cancer journey. Black women have been forced into living within the strong and resilient stereotype and burdened with the idea that we must nurture others without putting our needs and mental health first. Claire believes this stressor manifested as a spinal tumor. Claire faces her trauma by navigating physical and occupational therapy to be one of the 1% that can walk again after high-risk spinal surgery.

This showcase reflects how stereotypes, misogynoir, and expectations placed on Black women of the diaspora can manifest as health crises. It will highlight the fear several Black women have of American healthcare.

FEATURING A PLETHORA OF ART:

- ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY AUSTRALIAN DISABILITY ACTIVIST MEL CHILIANIS

- CLAIRE'S ORIGINAL SPOKEN WORD POEMS PAIRED WITH PERFORMANCE ART

- VISUAL NARRATIVES AND INTERVIEWS BETWEEN CLAIRE & HER DAUGHTER, CO-CREATOR AMARANTHIA SEPIA