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Show A-8 The Park Record Continued From A-1 A dose of hope zer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder had been trekking around Haiti with Farmer since 1994 and, in 2003, released a biography detailing his extraordinary dedication to health-care equality. The book, “Mountains Beyond Mountains” became a bestseller 25 and after reading it, Stern got in line to option the rights for a film. But, she said, it took five years to convince Farmer, Dahl and Kim to trust her with their story. In the meantime, she shared Kidder’s book with her friend and fellow filmmaker Kief Davidson. Davidson, who has earned international recognition for several social justice-related films, in turn drafted Pedro Kos, whose credits include previous Sundance films “The Square” and “Crash Reel.” Davidson said he was hooked by Farmer, Dahl and Kim’s unwavering optimism. “Paul and Ophelia and Jim set out at a very young age, they were really still kids in a lot of YOUR % OFF FIRST SERVICE * Labor Only * SALES AND SERVICE 435-640-7824 STRANDHVAC.COM SERVING PARK CITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS Dear Editor, The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor. For more details please visit our website. www.parkrecord.com/writealetter ways, and they set out to change the world. They were passionate and followed their hearts,” Davidson said, adding he believes their spirit will resonate with young people today. Kos said Kidder’s book struck a personal chord because he came from a family of doctors. “I fell in love with these amazing people and their intimate story that was told on an epic scale,” he said. In particular, Kos highlighted their pioneering model for health care-delivery, described as “accompaniment,” a practice that has since been replicated around the globe. As captured in the film, the group founded by Farmer, Dahl, Kim and others, Partners In Health, helps to train local residents as community volunteers. Their responsibilities include daily visits with patients, sometimes for as long as two years, to ensure they are taking their medicines and not losing hope. In the film Dahl underscores the importance of those community health-care workers. “So much of the work needs to be based on love, on going through hard times together and sticking with it.” Throughout the film, Partners in Health faces bureaucratic skeptics who say the battle to fight diseases like tuberculosis, AIDS and Ebola in impoverished areas is insurmountable. Continued From A-1 Marchers list many issues the State Legislature this month to lobby for some sex education bills and against other proposed laws. While Knauer will tote signs representing Planned Parenthood on Saturday, Murphy is going to support gender equality in a broader sense. She said she’s witnessed sexism, and wants to address the negative effects of female stereotypes. “My parents got divorced,” Murphy said. “When my mom was on her own, I know it was much harder for her within the community to get the support for her business that she had when my dad was still in the picture.” But marching for women’s rights, whether it has to do with pay equality or reproductive rights, is one of many reasons Summit County residents plan to take to the streets. Cami Richardson wants to make sure progress for LGBTQ rights does not take a step backward. “I am a transgender individual who lives in Kamas,” Richardson said. “I am marching to show my support for the LGBTQ community, which I believe, under the Trump/Pence Administration, might see the years of progress that have been accomplished toward this community turned upside down.” Teri Orr, who will march in support for women’s rights, is also concerned about freedom of the press. Trump, who has had a contentious relationship with journalists, has mentioned putting limits on press Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, January 21-24, 2017 But Farmer rejects those claims. “To me this is about hope, and rejecting despair and cynicism,” he said. In a triumphant moment, the filmmakers include footage of Jim Kim being appointed in 2012 to lead the World Bank, the agency that helps to distribute relief funds around the globe. In fact, according to the film credits, the World Bank is now investing $15 billion to expand health care coverage in Africa. As Dr. Joia Mukhergee, the chief medical officer for Partners in Health and associate professor of global health at Harvard Medical School puts it, the arc does bend toward justice, but Farmer, coverage, and Orr doesn’t want to see that happen. The former Park Record editor and current executive director for the Park City Institute will address the importance of journalism when she speaks at the event. “The underlying theme of this is that we stay alert from now on,” Orr said. Orr and other Summit County residents hope people will pay attention to the march in Park City. Feltovich said it’s important to show there are people in communities in Utah, and in the U.S., who don’t share the conservative views of Trump and those who voted for him. Feltovich feels the celebrity presence at the march, since it’s taking place during the Sundance Film Festival and will be led by Chelsea Handler, will put Park City on the map. “It’s funny to have a celebrity-powered march when we have a celebrity as a sworn-in president,” Feltovich said. “I think we are going to use Sundance as a platform. There is possibly going to be a little bit of media attention on Park City because of Sundance. We may have some celebrities in the crowd participating.” Those interviewed by The Park Record hope activism won’t fizzle out after Saturday’s event. Cordova said she hopes the historic event will encourage people to love one another and to want to make a difference. Cordova, who is concerned with the amount of hate she’s seen expressed in Facebook posts and the news, hopes the march will open people’s eyes and remind them of the often-used motto “love trumps hate.” “I feel like people have forgotten what being a human being is about,” she said. “I feel like we need to remember to believe in love. Love is my main belief.” The Women’s March on Main Street will be from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21. It will start at 220 Main St. in the Wasatch Brew Pub parking lot and will end with a rally at 626 Swede Alley in the Flagpole Parking Lot. Dahl and Kim have helped to bend it faster. Editors note: World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Dr. Paul Farmer and Ophelia Dahl and patients from around the world whose lives were saved by their remarkable work are planning to attend the film’s premiere on Monday. “”Bending the Arc” will screen in the Sundance Film Festival’s Documentary Premieres program at the following times and locations: Monday, Jan. 23, at noon at the Library Center Theater Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 9 a.m. at the Yarrow Hotel Theater Sunday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. at the Tower Theatre Why they’re marching: “I see women as leaders. I want the rest of our city, state, nation and world to see women in the same light.” — Cara Murphy, Park City “I guess the reason I’m going to the march is mainly because of Planned Parenthood, but I thoroughly support the other groups as well.” — Tania Knauer, Park City “I’m marching because I have two teenage daughters, and we are very involved with trying to make sure they get a good look at the world and understand how politics works and aren’t just passive consumers.” — Brian Feltovich, Park City “I am an immigrant from Argentina, although I have been raised in Utah for most of my life. I teach children in Park City as well, and I’m marching to help build a better future and empower them.” — Victoria McBride, Park City “I march in solidarity with women who stand to lose decades of progress to gain simple rights that men have always enjoyed. I march for our town, state and country to see that women are not satisfied with being marginalized anymore. I march to be seen so that women’s health care, however debated, is a fundamental human right.” — Danielle Demeter, Park City “We must solidly stand with each other to support equality and rights for all individuals. We are at a critical juncture in our country that requires those who feel strongly about equality to take action. I can’t sit on the sidelines and watch our country be so divided over important issues without having a voice.” — Cami Richardson, Kamas “I’m hoping the march will create a greater sense of passion. We must learn how we can work better together.” —Teri Orr, Park City. “I think it’s important for people to raise their voices. I feel like humanity has been treated poorly recently. I feel people have forgotten what being human is about. It’s about love.” — Maria Jose Cordova, Park City |