“Trusted messenger” is a term used in public health, referring to people who help us decide what information to believe. During times of uncertainty, they can help counter the spread of misinformation by delivering accurate, culturally sensitive, and relevant information to their communities. They use their existing connections to create trust and dialogue.
Our new special exhibition, Trusted Messengers: Community, Confidence, and COVID-19, brings this concept to life. Marking five years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors can expect to learn about the importance of trusted messengers and community-specific public health initiatives in making messages more accessible, acceptable, and memorable, particularly for historically underserved communities.
The exhibition features:
- Materials used in the development of the mRNA technology used in the COVID vaccine at Penn’s Weissman Lab in Philadelphia – emblems of a triumphant Philadelphia story that impacted the world
- Videos highlighting teen voices featured in the Trusted Messengers exhibition at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Museum
- Photographs and interviews by local photographer Kyle Cassidy highlighting the experience of Philadelphia nurses during the pandemic and its ongoing impact on their mental health
- Innovative community-created materials (augmented reality posters, street art, informational flyers in a dozen languages, and more) used in local initiatives to encourage COVID safety and vaccination across diverse populations
Trusted Messengers will invite visitors to consider the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on everyday life, mental health, and their communities.
Acknowledgements
This exhibition is made possible with support from The Elaine and Henry Berger Initiative for Mental Health and The Groff Family Memorial Trust.