Showcase: “Let My People Go” and “Calling for Change: Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline”

Showcase: “Let My People Go” and “Calling for Change: Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline”

Starts: Saturday, Jul. 13 2:15 PM (Eastern)

Ends: Saturday, Jul. 13 3:15 PM (Eastern)

Film showcases present several films in one session by showing multiple short films or clips, then inviting a presenter from each film to participate in a moderated discussion. “Let My People Go” is a 30-minute documentary detailing a David and Goliath battle fought by the people of South Dakota against the predatory lending industry. It follows the 2016 ballot measure campaign to cap interest at 36%, which had been up to 574%—all in a red state, led by co-chairs on opposing political sides. Interviews include First Nations community development lenders and their clients who had gotten caught up in payday lending, as well as a charismatic nun who helped lead the campaign. In the short documentary “Calling for Change: Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline,” Philly youth explore the impact of the school to prison pipeline and the local organizing fighting to disrupt it. What do you do when your school feels like a prison?

Moderators

Nuala Cabral

Nuala Cabral

Nuala Cabral is an award-winning filmmaker, cultural producer, and teaching artist who is deeply committed to the power of storytelling and media to build bridges of understanding and advance social justice. She has taught media production, media advocacy, and media literacy in high schools, colleges and community spaces for the past decade. Nuala co-manages the youth program at BlackStar Film Festival and for the past seven years has overseen the award-winning journalism program POPPYN (Presenting Our Perspective: Philly Youth News). Nuala is co-founder of FAAN (Fostering Activism and Alternatives Now), a media literacy and activist project formed by queer women of color. She is also a founding member and alumna of BYP100, a national black youth activist organization fighting for black liberation.


Onna LeBeau

Onna LeBeau

Onna LeBeau, Executive Director at Black Hills Community Loan Fund in Rapid City, South Dakota, member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, principal character in “Let My People Go”