[aesop_video align=”center” src=”youtube” id=”Gy4yXxqGMrE” disable_for_mobile=”on” loop=”on” autoplay=”on” controls=”on” viewstart=”on” viewend=”on” revealfx=”off”]
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who donated to and shared our crowdfunding campaign for America Will Be — because of you, we REACHED OUR GOAL of $10,000! Look out for episodes 2 & 3 of the series in the coming months.
Why Now?
We think that right now is the time to get this story out into the world. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by how big the problem of poverty is. But instead of feeling powerless, the struggles we’re documenting in AMERICA WILL BE show that when people unite across lines that too often divide us, real change is possible.
Donald Trump’s recent electoral campaign stoked the sense of division and mistrust between black, white and brown people. But there are people across the country — whether Republican or Democrat — who feel that poverty is not a political issue, it’s a moral issue. We are documenting this moment in history, in real time, as it unfolds. We plan to use the AMERICA WILL BE series in community forums across the country throughout 2017, to encourage open discussion about the real obstacles to, and possibilities for, ending the suffering that comes from growing poverty in this land of such plenty.
[aesop_image img=”https://kairoscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Midwest-Tour-1.png” alt=”The Midwest organizing tour of the New Poor People’s Campaign.” align=”center” lightbox=”on” caption=”The Midwest organizing tour of the New Poor People’s Campaign.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off”]
The Filmmakers
AMERICA WILL BE is a documentary project that has emerged from 15 years of media advocacy and organizing together with media makers across the United States. The film project is led by Dara Kell, Charon Hribar and Adam Barnes of the Kairos Center, but we see this as an open-ended project that we hope will continue to evolve as the conditions of poverty and climate change demand new, innovative forms of organizing.
[aesop_image img=”https://kairoscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Standing-Rock-2.png” alt=”An image from the first episode at Oceti Sakowin Camp in North Dakota.” align=”center” lightbox=”on” caption=”An image from the first episode at Oceti Sakowin Camp in North Dakota.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off”]
What We Need
So far, we’ve finished the first episode of the series, which you can watch at the top of this page.
Now, we need your help to finish the next two episodes of the series. We want to document a wider range of struggles across the country, that help illuminate the fight, plight and insight of activists who are working to improve their communities on a local level, every day — and making real gains toward building a more just and inclusive economy. We plan to film the second and third episodes with community organizers in Chicago, IL — where the leaders of Blocks Together are fighting school closures and gang violence — and Aberdeen, WA, where leaders of faith are uniting with homeless youth to address systemic poverty in rural America. We can’t wait to share these stories with you. Your contribution will help cover:
- Filming in Chicago and Aberdeen over the summer
- Hiring a professional editor for the second and third episode
- Hiring a composer, sound mixer, and colorist to help us deliver a professional finished product
- Support distribution and outreach — getting the films out to 50+ organizations across America who can use the series to help spark discussions about the potential for unity as we build a grassroots movement to end poverty, by calling for a New Poor People’s Campaign.
[aesop_image img=”https://kairoscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Standing-Rock-6.png” alt=”An image from the first episode at Oceti Sakowin Camp in North Dakota.” align=”center” lightbox=”on” caption=”An image from the first episode at Oceti Sakowin Camp in North Dakota.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off”]
How You Can Help
1. Back the Project – Hatchfund is ALL OR NOTHING. If we don’t meet or exceed our $10,000 target, we get nothing. Any amount helps us achieve this goal! All contributions are tax-deductible. Donate here!
2. Spread the Word – Whether you are able to donate or not, sharing this project on your social media accounts or via email truly helps us build a community. Use https://www.hatchfund.org/project/america_will_be
3. Follow us & SHARE on Facebook and Twitter – Kairos and the Poor People’s Campaign will be sharing all up-to-date information, exclusive videos, and other news on social media.
4. Get in Touch – Have questions? Want to learn more? Write an article? Let us know by emailing us at dara.kell@gmail.com.
If you’d like to invest more deeply in the project, please contact us at the above email addresses. We’d love to talk with you!