September 25 at 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Free
Join the UCLA Art & Global Health Center for a free screening of The Ebony Canal, directed by six-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Emmai Alaquiva. The documentary examines disparities in Black infant mortality and maternal health while sharing the experiences of Black mothers and highlighting solution-driven approaches to improving health outcomes.
The film is narrated by Viola Davis and includes creative contributions from Keke Palmer, who is the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s 2026–27 Artist-in-Residence.
Following the screening, the director will join panelists with direct expertise in Black maternal and infant health for a discussion.
Panelists include:
Shy Taylor (Moderator): Ms. Taylor is a Los Angeles–based TV host, pop culture expert, and entertainment reporter from New Jersey. Her credits include E! News The Rundown, TMZ, Access Daily, and Tyler Perry’s Sistas Salon at the BET Experience. She’s also an official NAACP Image Awards correspondent, a writer for Hallmark, and the founder of ShyUniversity, which provides resources and inspiration for kids in marginalized communities.
Mashariki Kudumu, MPH: Ms. Kudumu is Founder & Principal Consultant of Kudumu Partnerships for Equity and Justice, Founder & Director of the California Black Birth Equity Summit, and Community Advisor for the California Coalition for Black Birth Justice.
Lisa A. Nicholas, MD, OBGYN: Dr. Nicholas is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at UCLA Health and Vice Chair of Inclusive Excellence for UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is dedicated to advancing equity in women’s health care, addressing structural racism in medicine, and training physicians to provide compassionate care.
The evening also celebrates the announcement that Alaquiva will direct the mini-series pilot for Valentine Toya LeGrand, the Center’s Haitian-inspired Afrofuturist project celebrating women’s empowerment and mental health. We are seeking support to help bring this next stage of the project to life.
Schedule
- 6:30 PM — Theater opens to the public
- 7 PM — Program and screening
- 8:15 PM — Reception
RSVP encouraged but not required
This event is made possible through the generous support of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, the UCLA Bixby Center on Population and Reproductive Health, the UCLA Office of Inclusive Excellence, the Office of Inclusive Excellence at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, the Global Health Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Braintree Productions.