Pierce County human services hosts free events

In celebration of Community Action Month and Older Americans Month, Pierce County Human Services will host two free events this May, featuring resource fairs and public screenings of the award-winning documentary, “Cooked: Survival by Zip Code,” which explores the intersection of poverty, race, and climate disasters through the lens of the deadly 1995 Chicago heatwave.

The events aim to spark community dialogue around poverty, racial disparities, and disaster preparedness. Both gatherings will feature a robust lineup of local service providers and organizations offering information and resources on disaster preparedness, education, employment, behavioral health, energy assistance, senior care, and more. The screenings are followed by a panel discussion featuring “Cooked” filmmaker, Judith Helfand, and leaders from Metropolitan Development Council, Tacoma Community House, and United Way of Pierce County.

“This documentary is a wake-up call reminding us that disasters don’t affect all communities equally,” said Carol Mensah, Community Action Programs division manager. “Here in Pierce County, we must confront the reality that poverty and racial disparities leave some of our neighbors more vulnerable than others. These events are an opportunity for us to come together, learn, and take action.”

Participants will enjoy lunch, an award-winning film, and engage in community conversations at Evergreen State College–Tacoma, 1210 6th Ave., on Friday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and at Pacific Lutheran University’s Anderson University Center, Regence Room, 12180 Park Ave. S., Tacoma, on Friday, May 30, from 3-6 p.m.

These events are free and open to the public, but online registration is required at tinyurl.com/3mkn6jj6to attend the film screenings, which will begin one hour after the event begins. If you need support reserving your ticket, call the Aging and Disability Resource Center at (253) 798-4600.

For more information about the events, and to learn more about Community Action and Older Americans Month, visit piercecountywa.gov/cooked.