Discussion Questions
Liz was living through a steady rise in personal losses, but until her brother’s death, she was unable to express her anxiety, her depression or her grief.
- Why do you think it was so difficult for her “to take time to grieve”?
- Everyone grieves in different ways, but what factors affect some of the ways we deal with grief?
Liz states, “Our community is vulnerable. People under the federal poverty line were having challenges before COVID-19. The pandemic brought it even more to the surface.” She goes on to question what it would be like for her community to gain financial stability. The pandemic exposed (and worsened) an enormous income gap in the U.S.
- At the community level, here in Tucson, what are some steps that could be taken to reduce poverty?
- It is a difficult and complex problem; where do we start?
- How do the communities most affected by the pandemic, like Liz suggests, become empowered?
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control, U.S. life expectancy fell by a total of 2.7 years between 2019 and 2021. Compared to other industrialized nations, America is among the unhealthiest and is getting sicker.
- Who is responsible for the nation’s poor state of health?
- What are some of the biggest problems?
- How do we become a healthier nation?
