Keep On Keepin' On
Keep On Keepin’ On documents the life and career of the jazz legend Clark Terry, whose passion for music was equaled only by his investment in the lives of his students. This film focuses on Terry’s relationship with young Justin Kauflin—a blind piano genius who is struggling to find his own sound and a place in the jazz scene. Keep On Keepin’ On is much more than a music documentary; it’s a powerful case study for teachers and mentors. “To help young musicians make their dreams come true,” Terry says in the film, “that became my supreme joy and greatest aspiration.” (86 min.)
high school and professional development
How to Dance in Ohio
How to Dance in Ohio chronicles the experiences of a group of adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum as they prepare to attend a spring formal dance. Working with clinical psychologist Dr. Emilio Amigo, the young people participate in three months of social skills group therapy leading up to the event. Amigo and his staff help the youth move out of their comfort zones and equip them with skills to navigate social norms and new experiences. The stories of three young women in particular—16-year-old Marideth, 19-year-old Caroline and 22-year-old Jessica—add narrative depth to the film and illustrate how rites of passage are simultaneously deeply personal and collectively transformative experiences. (89 min.)
high school and professional development
Prison Kids: A Crime Against America's Children
Weaving together individual narratives of success and despair, the investigative documentary Prison Kids: A Crime Against America’s Children tells a complicated story about the broken U.S. juvenile justice system. It’s a system that takes many students from over-policed schools to under-resourced juvenile facilities—often for minor infractions—and leaves tens of thousands of children sleeping behind bars each night. As a professional development tool, Prison Kids can help educators learn about the racial and ability disparities in youth incarceration practices, understand the damaging effects of solitary confinement, and join the movement to overhaul the system. (64 min.)
professional development
Don't Tell Anyone (No Le Digas a Nadie)
Don’t Tell Anyone (No Le Digas a Nadie) is a documentary film about Angy Rivera, an activist for undocumented youth. As a young child, Rivera moved to the United States from Colombia with her mother, also undocumented. Rivera describes the burden of silence she carried for 20 years, informed by her mother’s instructions, “Don’t tell anyone,” and the constant fear that her mixed-status family would be torn apart. Rivera explains how she stepped out of the “shadows” at age 24. Not only did she publically share her undocumented status, but she also revealed that she’s a victim of sexual assault. Don’t Tell Anyone (No Le Digas a Nadie) spotlights topics that often remain in the shadows: the experiences and voices of undocumented immigrants, sexual abuse and youth activism. (71 min.)
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