The Creative Coalition has partnered with AARP to launch the Entertainment Industry Commission on Caregiving to spotlight and empower the 48 million Americans who serve as family caregivers.
The Creative Coalition is a nonprofit known for galvanizing the arts and entertainment industry to address social welfare issues. In collaboration with AARP, the Entertainment Industry Commission on Caregiving will raise awareness and highlight the underrepresented stories of those who take on caregiving responsibilities for family members — whether parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, or any loved one in their life.
Per the Creative Coalition, one in five U.S. adults assist loved ones with everyday tasks related to medication and medical care, bathing and dressing, shopping, meals and other essential parts of life.
The new commission is chaired by Emmy-nominated actor Yvette Nicole Brown, who has starred in comedy series like “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and “Community.”
Brown said of the commission, “As a caregiver for my own father, I know what it’s like to feel that I am facing this challenge alone. What excites me about this commission is that we have an opportunity to give voice to millions of Americans, like myself, who are facing the overwhelming task of being a family caregiver. I’m honored to stand with The Creative Coalition for this essential cause.”
Robin Bronk, CEO of the Creative Coalition, tells Variety how Brown’s personal story helped inspire the creation of the commission.
Bronk said, “Caregiving for her father is as much a part of her life as her day job…Getting to know what she has to do to be a caregiver made us start to look into it and research it.”
Other members of the commission include president of the Creative Coalition Tim Daly, Patrick J. Adams, Zibby Allen, Diedrich Bader, Troian Bellisario, Amy Brenneman and other prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
Bronk expanded upon the intent behind the commission.
“Our goal is to give visibility and voice to caregivers. We want to help influence updated policy where common sense changes can make a difference,” Bronk says. “77% of the electorate electorate identifies as a past, current or future caregiver. We’re looking for employer protections because it really is a second part-time or full-time job and [involves] emotional support.”
Bronk continues to highlight the cost of family caregiving: “It means for most people lost wages, it means that your own family is put to the side. And there’s no real support system in the United States for that.”
One way the commission plans to highlight this particular social issue is by incorporating it into the art audiences consume on screen.
“We’re going to we’re going to try and use script integration,” Bronk shares. “Entertainment and art can influence the way we think in a positive way and can impact social welfare.”
Bronk also points out that the number of those who identify as family caregivers is growing by 66,000 every day.
“We want to help the growing community better amplify their voices, feel empowered to discuss their challenges, and eventually show policymakers that this is a community, a growing community that needs more help,” she said.