Karen Brody has always believed that it only takes a group of committed people to change the world. All you have to do is be bold.
A writer and mother of two, Brody decided to start a global movement to make maternity care more mother-friendly. So, in 2006, she created Birth On Labor Day (BOLD) in 2006.
"One woman dies every minute throughout the world from a pregnancy or childbirth-related cause," Brody said. "As a writer I wondered, why are we not telling this story? And as an activist I wondered, how can we tell this story in a way that will make a difference?"
Brody has a background in international development and women's issues. She is a former Peace Corps volunteer and has worked all over the world, including Belize, the Netherlands, Guatemala and Kenya. She lives in Tanzania with her husband and two sons.
BOLD organizes grassroots events to educate communities about maternity care. During the Labor Day weekend, theater groups perform Brody's play "Birth" nationally and internationally. Each show is followed by "talkbacks," which gives the audience an opportunity to discuss birth issues.
"Birth" moves among first-person monologues, some dialogue and the voices women hear on the day they give birth. The play is based on more than 100 interviews Brody had with different women all over the country. The 100 are whittled down to eight.
Brody said choosing only eight was the hardest part. She said she noticed a lot of common themes and ended up including stories that represent the most typical birth choices American women have todaybr>
More than 40 performances took place over Labor Day weekend last year. This year, the BOLD timeline was extended throughout September. "Birth" will appear at venues in Amsterdam, Boston, Chicago, Houston, San Diego and many other cities as well as on the island of Maui, Hawaii, and the Canadian province of Ontario.
Seattle is part of the BOLD community as well. Edmonds Center for the Arts will host the opening night performance on Aug. 31. "Birth" will then be shown at the Seattle Public Theatre at the Bathhouse on Green Lake Sept. 7 through 9; and the Rainier Valley Cultural Center on Sept. 21. Performances will also take place in Everett and West Seattle, Tacoma and Vashon Island.
Puget Sound BOLD Coordinator Lynn Hughes said a special performance will be staged at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. "We really don't know what to expect," she said, "but we are very excited." Hughes said they are expecting up to several hundred women. "I think it's important for all women to see this play," she said.
Hughes said that because last year's single Seattle performance was sold out, she decided to organize more performances this year. A midwife herself, Hughes said "Birth" is a great way to encourage the medical system to listen to mothers.
Although several choices are available to pregnant women, many women are unaware of alternatives or have preconceptions, Hughes said. Women often don't know about all the consequences associated with how they want to give birth, whether it is in the hospital or in a home setting. The goal of BOLD is to reach out to people and educate them about these choices.
"There are a lot of people with very strong opinions about birth," Hughes said, "and I think it's very important to bridge all that."
Hughes said BOLD is about "feeling OK to share good and bad experiences with other women without being judged."
The Red Tent is a BOLD event for communities to gather mothers in an intimate space where they can just listen to each other's stories. The term "red tent" is often used to refer to various types of women's gatherings. It originated from a practice wherein women take refuge in a female-only setting, build networks and encourage each other.
Red Tents are international as well - this year women will not only share stories in the United States, but also in Australia, the Netherlands and northern Uganda. "There are many powerful forces and interests in maternity care today and I'm hoping mothers' voices will become a powerful force," Brody said.
Brody said she was surprised that so many people are excited about BOLD and its mission. She said it became so much more than just her play.
"The message and the mission of "Birth" are powerful, and, hopefully, the performance will be an empowering experience for all who come to hear our stories," said Eloisa Cardoza, a member of the local "Birth" cast.
For more information about BOLD, visit www.boldinseattle.com/
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