The Wayne State School of Social Work invites the public to attend an entertaining, thought-provoking and interactive performance by Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni, an award-winning actor, producer and educator who will bring her one-woman show, “One Drop of Love,” to the Community Arts Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Incorporating filmed images, photographs and animation, “One Drop Of Love” explores the themes of history, family, race, class, justice and love through Cox DiGiovanni’s own life experiences. The show will be followed by a Q&A session during which the audience can broach a range of issues spanning social construction of race in the United States, immigration, police brutality, privilege, family reconciliation and overcoming racial and economic oppression.
“One Drop Of Love” is the School of Social Work’s 11th Annual Diversity event and is part of a day of social justice and action that also includes “Elevate Their Voices," a diversity-focused forum that will be held in the Welcome Center Auditorium at 42 W. Warren Ave. from 4 to 7 p.m. The forum, sponsored by the Association of Black Social Workers, brings together community leaders who are advocating for social justice, action and change and seeks to bridge the gap between academic and living communities with a conversation on issues facing America and Metro Detroit. Forum participants include Donna Givens, president and CEO of Eastside Community Network; Antonio Rafael, cofounder of The Raiz Up; Dennis Black, policy analyst for the Detroit City Council, and Rashida Tlaib, the first Muslim woman elected to the Michigan Legislature.
Cox DiGiovanni sits on the board of mixedrootsstories.org and has been featured in The New York Times and on NPR as a spokesperson on using the arts to explore racial identity. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and has designed curricula for and taught English as a second language to students from all over the world. She has been honored with the Peace Corps’ Franklin H. Williams Award as well as with Peace Corps Fellows and Hollywood Foreign Press Association scholarships. She holds a master's in acting and performance in TV, film and theater.
In addition to the performance and Q&A session, there will be an informal discussion beginning at 3 p.m. during which faculty, students and community partners can engage with Cox DiGiovanni and her production manager. The event has been approved by the Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative for two continuing education contract hours at a cost of $10. For additional information on this event, contact Lauree Emery at ab7097@wayne.edu or 313-577-9348.
For additional information on the "One Drop of Love" event, view the event flyer or visit the Wayne State University Event Calendar. For additional information on the "Elevate Their Voices" event, view the event flyer or Wayne State University Event Calendar.