Short films as catalysts

The Community Justice Film Series uses film as a catalyst to gather our community(ies) and engage in active, forward-thinking dialogue around six themes of community justice: Education, Whole Body + Well-Being, Public Safety, Housing, Transportation, and Job Creation + Wealth-Building.

The Community Justice Film Series began with a simple question: how can everyday community members activate our neighbors to engage in the process of community justice? 

The general concept begins with small coalitions organizing short film screenings. Each screening includes a dialogue focused on next steps so we can activate our networks to better our communities. The process is flexible to the needs of each coalition in order to best maximize community results, but the central idea remains strong, “how can we build a collective movement toward community justice?”

By organizing and activating the organizations and community leaders working at the forefront of this work, the goal of the Community Justice Film Series is to provide avenues by which everyday people can become active community members in a participatory democracy. 

The 2016-2018 film series occurred over an 18-month period, screening films every quarter and supporting breakout events between each screening.

2016-2018 SCHEDULE

EDUCATION // October 29, 2016, Virginia Union University,

“Chicago Public Schools: Closed” and “Restoring Justice: Chicago’s School to Prison Pipeline” by #TheSchoolProject

WHOLE BODY WELL-BEING // February 19, 2017 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

“The Weight of the Nation” by HBO

PUBLIC SAFETY // May 17, 2017 at the Calhoun Center in Gilpin Court

“How The School to Prison Pipeline Ruins Lives Before They Start”, “What are the odds you’ll go to prison?”, and “Restorative Justice: Why do we need it?” by Brave New Films

HOUSING // August 17, 2017 at the University of Richmond Downtown

“America Divided” by Divided Films, this screening was co-produced with Housing Opportunity Made Equal

TRANSPORTATION // November 12, 2017 at a local union house

“Transportation and Poverty” by Rochester Street Films

JOB CREATION WEATLH-BUILDING // February 17, 2018 at the Robinson Theater

“Against All Odds: The Fight for a Black Middle Class” by Bob Herbert