Indie Lens Pop Up and Move to Include present "Move Me"

Join WXXI for a special screening and discussion of Move Me about a dancer paralyzed with a spinal cord injury that tests the limits of her recovery while adapting to life with a disability.

Indie Lens Pop-Up and Move to Include present a special screening of Move Me, followed by a panel discussion on Monday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m. at WXXI's Studios, 280 State Street. The event is free, but reservations are required via EventBrite.

Register here 

About the film:

Beneath the waters of Lake Superior, off the shore of Wisconsin, Kelsey Peterson underwent a transformation. On the eve of Independence Day 2012, she dove in and hit the lake bottom headfirst, suffering a life-altering spinal cord injury that takes away both function and sensation from the chest down, essentially robbing Kelsey of her self-identities as an athlete and dancer. Alongside peers and allies in the spinal cord injury community, she seeks to answer the question “Who am I now?” As she grapples with the ebb and flow of hope and acceptance, Kelsey talks to researchers and meets with people who belong to this community and who help give her the strength and the will to return to dance. When a cutting-edge clinical trial surfaces, it tests her expectations and her faith in the possibility of a cure, forcing her to evaluate the limits of her recovery—in body and spirit.

Watch the official Independent Lens Trailer: 

A panel discussion, moderated by WXXI News' Evan Dawson, host of Connections with Evan Dawson, will follow the screening. Panelists include:

Amy Scaramuzzino is the Board President of the Rochester Spinal Association. Amy was paralyzed in a motor vehicle accident in 1991. A retired teacher, she spent her career working with disadvantaged youth.  For Amy, knowing that there is life after spinal cord injury was crucial for her to heal emotionally and spiritually. Amy serves as a mentor to others with spinal cord injuries.

Luticha Andre Doucette is the author of the groundbreaking book: Cultivating an Intersectional Mindset. She graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Bioinformatics. She is a founding member of Rochester Accessible Adventures and she helped change the landscape, and attitudes, around inclusive recreation in New York State. She is the owner of Catalyst Consulting, which helps organizations, leaders, and advocates examine equity across race, gender identity, and disability in policies, practices, procedures, and relationships. In her spare time she is a fencer, cyclist and outdoor enthusiast. 

Connor Herbst has a BA in psychology from SUNY Brockport. Connor was injured in a construction site accident earlier this year. Before his injury, he worked as a Project Coordinator for Sessler Environmental Services. He has volunteered as a youth soccer coach and Fireman and has recently begun participating in wheelchair rugby and basketball.

About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together—virtually and in-person—for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's INDEPENDENT LENS, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations together to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics, to family and community relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. For more information, visit pbs.org/independentlens/indie-lens-pop-up

About Move to Include
Move to Include is a partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation designed to promote inclusion for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. This Move to Include model expands nationally this year to five additional communities with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. To learn more about the national efforts, visit movetoinclude.us.

Support from ITVS, CPB, PBS, ACTON FAMILY GIVING, MACARTHUR FOUNDATION, WYNCOTE FOUNDATION AND NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

Local partners: Golisano Foundation and the MOVE TO INCLUDE initiative.