What Is The Healing Lens?
The Healing Lens, at its core, is a perspective that magnifies deep conversations with love. A perspective that illuminates our lived experiences through an emotionally conscious lens. By choosing to release the trauma of our past, we get to re-story a new narrative for our future. The Healing Lens will make you laugh and cry, but not necessarily in that order.
Where It All Started
Carrie’s TOUCH presented a transformative staging of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, directed by James Ellison. This groundbreaking play, the first by an African-American woman on Broadway, remains a cultural touchstone for its authentic portrayal of Black family life, aspirations, and challenges. Our production reimagined this classic through a healing lens, using theater as a catalyst for dialogue, empathy, and community wellness. This approach inspired our original show: Dinner With The Youngers.
Why This Matters Now
Mental Health Crisis: Recent data reveals a 54% increase in suicide rates among Black youth since 2018, with mental health crises in Black communities often underrepresented in mainstream media.
Our Response: By integrating mental health awareness into the theatrical experience, we foster understanding, resilience, and open conversations about well-being.
Character Insights Through a Healing Lens
| Character | Traditional View | Healing Perspective |
|---|---|---|
Walter Lee | Seen as angry and frustrated by societal barriers | His struggles reflect the mental pressures faced by Black men, highlighting issues of pride, failure, and depression. |
| Lena (Mama) | The family’s moral backbone | Her sacrifices mirror the emotional strain and fatigue many Black women endure, opening dialogue about caregiver stress and hope. |
| Beneatha | Progressive and rebellious | Her journey explores the anxiety and conflict of navigating dual cultural expectations, resonating with those forging their own paths. |
| Ruth | Weary yet resilient | Her balancing act between work, marriage, and motherhood underscores hidden struggles with anxiety and depression. |
| Travis | Symbol of hope | His experiences highlight the unseen impacts of adult decisions on children and the importance of acknowledging youth mental health. |
The Evolution of The Healing Lens
The Healing Lens is evolving from media analysis to personal application through interactive workshops. Upcoming performances of Dinner With The Youngers in Oakland and New York will invite participants to connect the play’s themes to their own lives by inviting them to act out dialogue from the play, deepening the impact and reach of this approach.
This is only the beginning. As The Healing Lens brand grows, we will continue to create spaces for healing, dialogue, and transformation—on stage and beyond.
