More than 200 Attendees Urged to Take Action for Care Infrastructure
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DETROIT — More than 200 Detroiters gathered at Saint Andrews Hall to experience Tony Award®–winning visionary and comedian Sarah Jones’ latest in-development solo show, “The Cost of Not Caring.” The show, presented in partnership with Caring Across Generations, highlighted the deep and growing care crisis in Michigan. Through a cast of compelling and relatable characters, Jones explored the consequences of neglecting care infrastructure in a near-future world where a corporation is trying to replace caregivers with artificial intelligence and robots
In a panel discussion moderated by Ken Whittaker, executive director of Michigan United, following the 45-minute performance, Jones and community leaders from around the city urged event attendees to vote with care in mind and to advocate for removing barriers to access care, along with other care infrastructure investments.
Right now, 1.2 million unpaid family caregivers in Michigan contribute over $19.6 billion in unpaid labor, often sacrificing their own health and well-being to care for their families. This burden falls disproportionately on women and people of color, who face significant financial and workforce setbacks due to a lack of training and support.
“I don’t care where you are on the political spectrum — you’re going to need or give care,” said Jones, who grew up seeing many relatives providing unpaid care to others, and who herself received care at home and in facilities after a bad accident. “The Cost of Not Caring is about how all of us, regardless of our background or how we sound, all have care in common. We will all be touched by this issue if we haven’t already been.”
Bomani Gray, chair of the Metro Detroit Fatherhood Policy Initiative and one of the evening’s panelists, reflected on the role of men and father’s in caregiving: “I believe we need to redefine masculinity through the lens of care, starting with the individual. I can’t care for another brother who looks like me unless I first learn to love myself. That inner reflection must come first, and only then can we extend care outward.”
Ai-jen Poo, executive director of Caring Across Generations and creative thought partner to Jones, highlighted the urgency of the issue in her remarks: “This conversation isn’t just happening here in Detroit — it’s happening across the country. We’re a country that needs more care than ever before, and we’ve never invested as a country in the systems, the policies, the programs to support us to care for the people we love. We don’t have universal child care, we’re one of the only countries in the world that does not have national paid family medical care, and that means that one in four moms goes back to work within two weeks of giving birth.”
The event marked the final stop in Caring Across Generations’ Care on Tour campaign, a month-long storytelling and advocacy initiative that included Sarah Jones performances, the Care Can’t Wait bus tour and community conversations across the country. The Detroit show capped off the tour by calling for continued advocacy and action to transform America’s care systems.
Panelists reflected on the power of storytelling as the heart of this movement and one of the most effective tools for advocacy. Panelist Kristie King, associate executive for The Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative, stated: “We have the power to change the narrative on how we look at older adults, and how we view care. Performances like the ones we saw today really give us a different perspective. Everyone in this room has the ability to change the narrative and impact this system.”
In closing, Jones encouraged attendees to remain engaged: “This tour may be ending, but the work continues. Care is the backbone of our lives, and we can’t afford to overlook it any longer.”