141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

293203
Gaining ground - documentary film

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 1:10 PM - 1:14 PM

Mark Lipman , Gaining Ground Productions, San Francisco, CA
Leah Mahan , Gaining Ground Productions, San Francisco, CA
In the midst of the economic meltdown, Gaining Ground explores the innovative, grassroots organizing efforts of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) in Boston. Over the course of two years, we watch a new generation of leaders working to prevent foreclosures and bring jobs and opportunities for young people to one of the city's most diverse and economically challenged neighborhoods. Gaining Ground is a sequel to Holding Ground which showed DSNI's early organizing efforts as residents fought to close down illegal dumps, gain unprecedented control of land from the city, and create a comprehensive plan to rebuild the fabric of a community devastated by bank redlining and arson-for-profit. Several teen volunteers who appeared in Holding Ground now run the organization and are major characters in the new film, providing powerful examples of the youth leadership development that has become a hallmark of DSNI's work. Started in 1985, DSNI has become one of the preeminent models for community-based change, inspiring neighborhoods across the country that are struggling to improve the lives of their residents.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Environmental health sciences
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative as it faces the enormous challenges presented by the current economic crisis. Identify a new generation of leaders working to prevent foreclosures and bring jobs and opportunities for young people to one of the city’s most diverse and economically challenged neighborhoods. Analyze preeminent models for community-based change.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Community Building

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Mark Lipman has worked as a documentary filmmaker for thirty years, exploring a wide range of subjects. His films have been broadcast nationally on public television and won numerous awards. Mark holds a BA in psychology from Harvard University and an MFA in film and video from the Massachusetts College of Art.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.