Overview: Black Voice News held an exhibition and discussion at the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California in downtown Riverside on November 20 which featured the publication’s nearly yearlong series “Care in the IE,” supported in part by the United Domestic Workers (UDW). The exhibit focuses on the growing demand for caregivers, those who they care for, the cost of care, and how to access in-home care resources in the inland region. The exhibit features images from a photo essay by Black Voice News’ photojournalist, Aryana Noorazi, as well as images and stories produced by other Black Voice News reporters.
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Dozens of caregivers, supporters and community members showed support for formal and family caregivers at an exhibition and discussion event hosted by Black Voice News at the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California in downtown Riverside on Nov. 20. The exhibition featured the publication’s nearly yearlong series, “Care in the IE,” an effort supported by the United Domestic Workers (UDW). Stories for the series were written by BVN reporter Breanna Reeves and BVN contributing writer Mariah Brown.
The exhibit highlights the growing demand for caregivers, those who they care for, the cost of care and how to access in-home care resources in the inland region.
More than 20 attendees viewed the exhibit which showcased images from a photo story by Black Voice News photojournalist Aryana Noroozi, as well as images and stories produced by other Black Voice News reporters.
One of the featured caregivers in the photo story included Christine Young, 66. Young is no stranger to caregiving. She has been a caregiver to her family members since she was in her 20s. Young has taken care of her grandfather, mother, uncles, brothers, and now her eldest sister, 73-year-old Maytha Goff.
“I want her to be comfortable. She’s been through enough. With the time that I have left with her, I want her to know love, that’s the bottom line. I just want her to know love and that someone cares enough to be here until the end. That’s one thing I told her every day,” Young said.
Young said she and her sister have been away from one another for almost 30 years due to Goff living in Northern California. Before removing Goff from her nursing home earlier this year, Young would only see her sister about four times a year.
“I have a stranger in my home. And I am a stranger to her. We’re sisters, but we don’t know each other. I don’t know her fears. I don’t know those things. I’m learning them. And because she can’t speak, no communication, I have to figure out sounds and I can see her frustrated when she wants me to do something for her, and I don’t understand,” Young said. Young explained that she asks Goff to have patience with her.
“That’s why I say it takes a lot of patience, a whole lot of love, and above all, I think, it’s respect for the person you’re taking care of,” Young continued.
As a middle child of seven siblings, Young sometimes would feel upset and ask, “Why me?” when her other siblings didn’t step in. She said she understands that some people really can’t handle it. She also said some people just don’t try.
“I really feel honored to be able to be a part of this community and to be able to share with others who think they can’t do it, just to be able to show and let them know it’s okay to fear. It’s okay but you can do it. Together as a community of people, we can show each other how to care for our own,” Young said about the exhibit.
Another featured caregiver is 52-year-old Crystal Foster who cares for her son Tyler. Crystal had an intense pregnancy with Tyler when she was 25 years old. He has cerebral palsy and developmental delay, and couldn’t come home from the hospital until he was one year old.
“This is really amazing. Today is my first time coming here, and that you guys did this for the home care workers is really nice,” Foster said. “I really think that all the photos and everything that they put under the photos, like [Noroozi] got it so good; she took so many notes, but what she chose to put under there described perfectly what my son went through, and I went through and all of that. I think it’s really nice.”
Foster attended the exhibition with her son Tyler, her mother and her husband who she told about the exhibit the day before. They decided to come out and support the exhibit because they didn’t want to miss it. Foster said her family is always supportive and are happy for her and Tyler’s feature in the exhibition.
“They’re impressed. My mom’s like, ‘this is really nice.’ They didn’t know what to expect,” Foster said.
The event opened up with remarks from BVN’s Director of Revenue Audience Engagement Christen Irving, who introduced artist BerniE and BVN’s Executive Editor Stephanie Williams. Both BerniE and Williams shared their experiences with caring for their owned loved ones.
“I know how you all feel. It’s a daunting feeling at times, but the joy that I have is from giving my mom her flowers each day. You have to give people their flowers while they yet live,” BerniE said. “But I told [them] it’s not about you. So as a result of that, I began to think, when my mom went on to glory, how I was going to heal.”
BerniE said he had to figure out how to take care of himself after his mother’s passing. He found writing, painting, and creating music to be therapeutic to him. Eventually BerniE said he met up with Williams who was able to articulate everything that he had been going through.
“She was able to help me to document for the public what it was like to go through Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving, and also be able to help people heal from the processes that I had gone through, because my healing process had begun with the song, ‘I Care,’ and the art,” BerniE explained.
In addition to that, he created a fund, and has been awarding grants to groups working on behalf of Alzheimer’s and other organizations, even in the UK, to show appreciation to caregivers.
“I am so honored to be in a room with all of you wonderful people who are truly doing God’s work, and I appreciate you. I know that the community appreciates you. The purpose of this exhibit was to lift up not only your work, but your need for support, for quality pay that will enable you to live [a] quality life, and also to encourage the community to not wait until there’s a need to seek assistance,” Williams said.
Williams also shared that Riverside and San Bernardino counties are “wonderful” at providing guidance, direction and support even when an individual does not qualify for caregiver support services they can often provide suggestions.
“I’m with UDW, and actually, this impacted me because it makes me feel that people are listening and they’re trying to help us. I take care of a community lady, so she’s a non-family member, and I love her as well. I think it’s a great idea. And I didn’t know about it until today. So, it’s great, it feels good inside,” said UDW caregiver Rosa Beltran.
Yvette Elam, assistant director of internal operations for United Domestic Workers/AFSCME Local 3930/AFL-CIO, said she has been involved with planning and organizing the series and the exhibit since the beginning.
“In the conversations when we were talking about planning this out, I mentioned that November is Caregiver Appreciation Month, and so [Black Voice News] decided to come up with this exhibition, [including] interviews and pictures with home care providers,” Elam said.
Elam stressed how the exhibit is important for getting the word out about home care because people are often unaware about the topic and that UDW exists as an organization designed to support caregivers.
“Walking in, it just took my breath away. Seeing the photos [and] the little comments below. It was just moving. It was just heartfelt and you could just feel the love in there. What [Black Voice News has] done is beautiful. It’s really painting the picture of what our home care providers do on a daily basis for their loved ones,” Elam said about the exhibit.
The exhibit, originally scheduled to close at the end of November, has been extended to mid-December, 2024.