WCTE to host listening event and town hall on juvenile opioid crisis

COOKEVILLE – WCTE Upper Cumberland PBS invites you to a StoryCorps listening event and reception in conjunction with a town hall and clips from the new documentary, “Bitter Pill: Youth at Risk,”which focuseson juvenile opioid addiction and will be moderated by Demetria Kalodimos, on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Bell Hall on Tennessee Tech’s campus. Admission is free.

The evening begins with a reception to honor those who recorded their stories with StoryCorps this past April at WCTE’s studio. Ten people from the Upper Cumberland recorded conversations with friends or loved ones about their personal journey in regard to rural healthcare. WCTE CEO Becky Magura will honor each participant and share one conversation that was made into an animated short, which will air on more than 350 PBS stations across the country. These conversations will all be stored at the Library of Congress and made available to the public.

Following the StoryCorps presentation, Emmy Award Winner Kalodimos will moderate a town hall on juvenile opioid addiction, with esteemed professionals from around the Upper Cumberland. During the town hall conversation, clips of the new Todd Jarrell produced documentary, “Bitter Pill: Youth at Risk,” will be screened as well. An anonymous Town Hall hotline will be available from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. by calling 931-528-2222.

“WCTE was very fortunate to receive funding from the state to produce a one-hour documentary and in conjunction, hold a Town Hall titled, “Bitter Pill: Youth at Risk,” to bring awareness to a crisis that continues to have devastating consequences in the Upper Cumberland,” said Brent Clark, WCTE’s director of content & digital media. “This represents another great partnership between WCTE and award-winning independent producer, Todd Jarrell. The documentary helps continue the conversation about opioid drug abuse in the Upper Cumberland and the country.”

The town hall will also be streamed live at www.wcte.org/original-productions/livestream/. To listen to each StoryCorps recording, visit https://www.wcte.org/podcast/. For more information about the town hall, call 931-528-2222 or visit wcte.org.

WCTE has served the Upper Cumberland for 40+ years as the region’s premier storyteller and is the only television station in a 75-mile radius of Cookeville.  WCTE is a proud strategic partner with educators, health services, government, arts and music organizations across the Upper Cumberland. WCTE is a 501-(c) 3 and is owned and operated by the Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council. WCTE is one of only 350 PBS member stations nationwide. 

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