Programs that have appeared on National PBS and local public television.
Tal Como Somos (Just As We Are)
Television
documentary, educational video, discussion guide and community outreach
activities addressing negative stigma overcome by gays in Latino
communities. Collaboration with Dr. Jesus Ramirez-Valles, University of
Illinois Chicago. Funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Nubia and the Mysteries of Kush (26 minutes, Ancient History)
An exploration of the ancient Nubian
Kingdom of Kush through the eyes and experience of archaeologist and
ordinary folk. While this kingdom existed intact between 750 BC through
350 AD and includes a rich legacy of political power, commerce and
technological innovation in the Nile Valley, little has been known about
it until now.
Tracking Syphilis: Countdown to Elimination (26 minutes, Health Issues)
Chicago achieved the dubious distinction
of leading the nation in new cases of syphilis in 2000. This documentary
takes an inside look at innovative efforts by the Chicago Department of
Public Health, collaborating with a coalition of health and social
organizations, to rid the city of this disease and help meet the Centers
for Disease Control's goal of complete syphilis elimination in the
United States by 2005.
Amazon Rising : Seasons of the River (26 minutes, Nature)
Immerse yourself in a journey to the
Amazon River basin, the most mysterious and diverse habitat on earth.
In this documentary companion to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium's exciting
exhibit, experience the changing seasons of the floodplain forest and
learn how animals, plants and people exist together, and how they adapt
to the floods and receding waters of this majestic waterway.
For My People : The Life and Writing of Margaret
Walker (26 minutes,
Biography)
Narrated by Ruby Dee, this story explores the life
and work of "the most famous person nobody knows,"
writer Margaret Walker. Conversations with Walker,
scholars and writers are woven together with archival
footage, poetry and images from Walker's work to
reveal her distinctive style and voice that spoke
to an America emerging from the Depression, going
to war, and advancing civil/social rights.
Narrated by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee,
this story uses archival footage and on-camera interviews to reveal the
little known, but important chapter in US history: how America's
attorneys volunteered to assist Black Mississippians in their battle for
the right to vote and political representation in the 1960's. It is a
story of persistence and courage in the face of oppression and
life-threatening violence.
About the Children : School Reform, Year 4
(56 minutes, Educational Issues)
How has school reform impacted upon the children?
By following daily activities of one child in one
typical Chicago public school, WTTW/Channel 11 continues
its commitment to Chicago's school reform efforts
in its examination of the successes, issues, and
politics of school reform.
Programs distributed to schools, community groups, libraries and non-profit organizations.
Who Took My Chalk?: Addressing 21st Century Skills in Education (instructional)
Teaching in the 21st Century requires new perspectives and approaches both in and out of the classroom. Vignettes in this training curriculum showcase real teachers and administrators addressing team-building, new skill development, adaptations to new technologies, and attitude adjustment as they meet the challenge to prepare the nation’s young people for the 21st Century world and workforce.
Beating Breast Cancer (14 minutes, Health and Wellness)
In Chicago, African American women are dying of breast cancer at twice the rate of white women. It doesn’t have to be this way. In this inspirational film, five cancer survivors share from their hearts, providing insights on how they addressed commonly held beliefs about breast cancer. Designed to promote early detection thorough screening, it also offers hope for those diagnosed with breast cancer. Distributed through the American Cancer Society and shown at churches, beauty salons, community centers and gatherings nationwide.
Creating Harmony: A Guide for Families (26 minutes, Health and Wellness)
All parents desire to raise children to be happy, healthy, socially well-adjusted and financially successful adults. Yet the journey from a child’s birth to adulthood is a long one, with many potential pitfalls, including drug and alcohol use, depression and mental illness. This alcohol and substance abuse prevention video highlights positive parent-adolescent relationships and promotes family bonding amongst Asian immigrant families dealing with acculturation issues as a means to guide adolescents away from societal pitfalls. Produced in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Korean.
Destructive Force: Hip Hop Imagery in Advertising (12 minutes, Media Literacy)
A 12 minute educational video and curriculum
guide designed to facilitate classroom discussion about how hip hop
imagery in advertising influences and manipulates youth of color. The
video follows Kuumba Lynx, a Chicago-based hip hop organization, as they
disentangle hip hop culture from the products and messages companies
are attempting to sell. Intended for ages 13 - 19.
Furious Flower II: The Black Poetic Tradition (Three part series, 60 minutes each, Arts)
Explore the world of today's Black poetry
and watch as one of America's most exciting cultural movements evolves.
Outstanding critical scholarship on Black contemporary poetry's origins
and trends, its conflicts and consonances. Notable poets give
impassioned readings and share insights about their creative process,
personal inspiration, and life as a published writer.
Syphilis Prevention: What You Can Do (9 minutes, Health Issues)
Syphilis Prevention: What You Can Do is
an artfully executed educational video that addresses the myths and
facts surrounding syphilis - the ages old sexually transmitted disease.
Part of the national effort to effectively eliminate Syphilis,
Juneteenth Productions was chosen to develop an impactful educational
video that transcended the usual monotony of health videos about sex
and STDs.
Changing Lives : America's Youth Courts (20 minutes, Social Issues)
This documentary shows the vital bond between
the courts, the community and the individual through the eyes of youth
involved with the teen court movement; an attempt to provide
compassionate justice, dispensed by peers encouraged to consider the
most therapeutic solution for defendant and community alike.
Facing Violence Minutes (Five 1-minute PSA's, Social Issues)
Chicago Matters Minutes exposes some of
the myths about violence and violent behavior in a series of one-minute
informational pieces that will replace distorted perceptions with
factual vignettes. The intended impact is to give viewers an insight
into one aspect about violence, eliminating some of the prejudice and
fear surrounding it and leaving them encouraged that this problem is
solvable.
Media campaigns targeting social issues to solve problems and change behavior.
Tal Como Somos (Just As We Are)
Television
documentary, educational video, discussion guide and community outreach
activities addressing negative stigma overcome by gays in Latino
communities. Collaboration with Dr. Jesus Ramirez-Valles, University of
Illinois Chicago. Funded by the National Institutes of Health.
TV documentary; educational video; TV commercials; website; print,
public transit and website advertising; posters and community outreach
activities for prevention, testing and treatment of syphilis for the
Chicago Department of Public Health. Funded by the Centers for Disease
Control and the City of Chicago.
Natural health care has existed throughout history, however humanity
has lost touch with much of this knowledge. We've forgotten basic truths
about nature and our connectin with it. Website, brochures and
radio advertisements were produced to reveal natural healing principles
and practices that continue to be effective today.
Focus group research, radio commercials,
print and outdoor advertising, posters and community-placed
advertisements for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Funded by
the Illinois Department of Public Health.
