What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City (Flint, Michigan)

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, M.D., MPH, FAAP, will speak about the subject of her book, What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City.  Dr. Mona will tell us about how she, accompanied by a team of researchers, parents, friends, and community leaders, proved that Flint, Michigan’s children were exposed to lead and then fought her own government and a brutal backlash to expose that truth to the world.   She will explain how the misguided austerity policies, the withdrawal of democratic government, and callous bureaucratic indifference placed the entire city of Flint at risk.  She will show that a shameful disaster did become a tale of hope and, how the city came together to fight for justice, self-determination and the right to build a better world for their children.

Dr. Mona is founder and director of the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, an innovative and model public health program in Flint, Michigan.  A pediatrician, scientist, activist and author, she has testified three times before the United States Congress, awarded the Freedom of Expression Courage Award by PEN America, named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, and most recently recognized as one of USA Today’s Women of the Century for her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis and leading recovery efforts.  A frequent contributor to national outlets including the New York Times and Washington Post, Dr. has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, BBC and countless other media outlets championing the cause of children in Flint and beyond. She is the founding donor of the Flint Child Health and Development Fund (flintkids.org).  A Covid-19 survivor, Dr. Mona has donated her convalescent plasma three times while continuing to advocate for health and racial equity.

After services, from 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM, we will open Zoom for informal general discussion, as well as an opportunity to join a conversation group with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.

Please note: this service will be hosted via Zoom. Subscribe to our Sunday service mailing list below to get this service’s Zoom information. We will send you an email one week prior.