The Wake Up to Dying Project

The Wake Up to Dying Project aims to shift our cultural perspective on death from fear and avoidance toward familiarity - by inviting people to acknowledge death, be prepared for it, and live more fully for having done so.

We do this by gathering and sharing first person audio stories about death, dying, and life. We bring these stories, along with related art, hands-on engagement opportunities and workshops to communities in a creative traveling exhibit.

Visitors to the Traveling Exhibit can:

listen to audio stories about death, dying and life,

add their bucket list goals to our massive chalkboard,

learn about and take away end-of-life resources,

attend a workshop or community discussion with local leaders in end-of-life care, and

bring what they learn and experience back to their home and community.

All events are free and open to the public. Exhibit Tents are in Seven Hills Park, Davis Square, Somerville. Workshops are held at the George Dilboy Post 529 VFW Hall, 371 Summer Street, Somerville. Free parking is available at the VFW Hall during workshops.

THE EXHIBIT TENTS IN SEVEN HILLS PARK WILL BE OPEN:

Thursday & Friday, Sept. 24-25th, 11:00am – 6:00pm

Saturday, Sept. 26th, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Sunday, Sept. 27th, 10:00am – 5:00pm

WORKSHOP & DIALOGUE SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY:

Community Dialogue

Thursday, September, 24th, 12:30-1:30pm – 7 Hills Park, Davis Square, Somerville (Weather Permitting)

Join us for an open, facilitated dialogue. Bring a brown bag lunch for an opportunity to talk about death, dying, and life!

Spiritual Perspectives on Death, Dying, and Life

Thursday, September 24th, 6:00 – 7:30pm – George Dilboy Post 529 VFW Hall, 371 Summer Street, Somerville

How do spiritual beliefs help us think about death, and live better? Join in on a facilitated dialogue about death, dying, and life with spiritual leaders from the community.

Panelists:

Greg M. Epstein - Humanist Chaplain, Harvard University; Executive Director, the Humanist Hub

Rev. Jeff Mansfield - Associate Pastor, First Church Somerville UCC

Lama Rod Owens - Core Teacher, Natural Dharma Fellowship; Master of Divinity Candidate, Harvard Divinity School

Facilitator:

Nina Thompson - Executive Director, The Wake Up To Dying Project

FRIDAY:

Community Dialogue

Friday, September 25th, 12:30-1:30pm – 7 Hills Park, Davis Square, Somerville (Weather Permitting)

Join us for an open, facilitated dialogue. Bring a brown bag lunch for an opportunity to talk about death, dying, and life!

It’s Your Funeral – Do it Your Way!

Friday, September 25th, 7:00 – 8:30pm – George Dilboy Post 529 VFW Hall, 371 Summer Street, Somerville

Come learn about the wide variety of choices for funeral and memorial rituals, body disposition, and burial. Explore after-death planning documents, and begin to ponder how to design this experience for a loved one, or for yourself.

Panelists:

Candace Currie, LEED Green Associate - Director of Planning & Sustainability, Mount Auburn Cemetery; Board Member, the National Green Burial Council

Heather Massey, MSW, LMT - Director, In Loving Hands; Co-Founder, the Natural Deathcare Collaborative; Consultant, the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Eastern MA

Tim Keefe - Licensed Funeral Director, Keefe Funeral Home

Facilitator:

Bree Harvey - Vice President of Cemetery and Visitor Services, Mount Auburn Cemetery

SATURDAY:

Community Dialogue

Saturday, September 26th, 12:30-1:30pm – 7 Hills Park, Davis Square, Somerville (Weather Permitting)

Join us for an open, facilitated dialogue. Bring a brown bag lunch for an opportunity to talk about death, dying, and life!

Death and Documents: The Business of Dying

Saturday, September 26th, 1:30 – 3:00pm – George Dilboy Post 529 VFW Hall, 371 Summer Street, Somerville

You know you need to do it….An introduction to the practical “business” elements of aging and end-of-life planning, including wills, trusts, power of attorney, guardianship, health care proxies and advance directives.

Panelists:

Kim Adams, Certified Professional Coach - Owner, Powerful U End of Life Coaching

William Brisk, Esq. - Certified Elder Law Attorney, Law Office of William J. Brisk

David B. Clarke, DMin, JD, MPH - Director, Massachusetts Health Decisions

Facilitator:

Lisa M. Cukier, Esq. - Partner, Burns & Levinson LLP

End-of-Life Planning: One-on-One Q&A Session

Saturday, September 26th, 3:00 – 4:30pm – George Dilboy Post 529 VFW Hall, 371 Summer Street, Somerville

Here’s your opportunity to meet with experts one-on-one to receive information and guidance about end-of-life planning documents and decisions. Start on your advance directive, learn how to appoint a health care proxy and/or review an estate planning checklist. Drop in anytime – bring your questions!

Living Well – Dying Well

Saturday, September 26th, 7:00 – 8:30pm – George Dilboy Post 529 VFW Hall, 371 Summer Street, Somerville

Community members and end-of-life care professionals share what they have learned, offering an opportunity for participants to consider what living well and dying mean to them.

Panelists:

Lewis Hays, MD, MPH - Medical Director, All Care Hospice

Ruth Hoffman - Long Term Hospice Volunteer

Jerry Schwartz, PhD, LMHC - Psychologist & Community Educator, All Care Hospice & Bridge Program

Ashlie Taylor, CNA - Hospice Certified Home Health Aid, DeRham Hospice House

Facilitator:

Barbara Parton, RN, MAOM - Licensed Acupuncturist, All Care Hospice & Tufts New England Medical Center

SUNDAY:

Community Dialogue

Sunday, September 27th, 12:30-1:30pm – 7 Hills Park, Davis Square, Somerville (Weather Permitting)

Join us for an open, facilitated dialogue. Bring a brown bag lunch for an opportunity to talk about death, dying, and life!

WORKSHOPS AND DIALOGUES BROUGHT TO YOU BY

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

All Care Hospice, Mount Auburn Cemetery, The Children’s Room and Massachusetts Health Decisions