Date: February 16, 2026
On Tuesday 17 February at 2:00 p.m. (i.e. tomorrow), in the Lettie Pate, we will host a screening of Familiar Touch in partnership with Goodwin Living. I warmly encourage our students, faculty, and staff to attend. Aging will come to all of us, and even now many of us are accompanying parents, parishioners, friends, or colleagues who are growing older and navigating cognitive or physical challenges. This film expands our awareness of the impact of ageism—especially for those with cognitive conditions—and invites us to build connections that affirm dignity and counter isolation.
The film’s inspiration is deeply compelling. Writer and director Sarah Friedland began the project after her grandmother, a poetry editor, became nonverbal following dementia. As her family grieved, they spoke of her almost in the past tense, since language had always defined her identity. Yet in assisted living, Friedland encountered a woman still vividly present—physically expressive, reaching out, communicating in new ways. That gap between perceived loss and enduring personhood lies at the heart of Familiar Touch.
This screening is more than a film. As faith-based partners committed to the sacred dignity of every person made in the image of God, Virginia Theological Seminary and Goodwin Living share a common mission. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion on resources to combat ageism and support caregivers, followed by time for community conversation. I hope you will join us for this important and timely gathering.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary.