Ain't No Stopping Us Now
The McFadden and Whitehead song "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" connects to the OUR HOME TOO: THE BLACK FREEDOM STRUGGLE IN GRAND RAPIDS (WT) documentary film and community outreach project.
Ain't No Stoppin Us Now!
We're on the move!
Ain't No Stoppin Us Now!
We've got the groove!
Community financial and conceptual support, the dedication of our non-profit fiscal sponsor, Regenerative Community Builders, and commitments to the project of talented film production professionals have pushed the project forward.
The independent feature documentary, Our Home Too, explores the stories of Black men and women fighting for freedom, equity, and justice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from the early 1900s to contemporary times. Ministers, professionals, activists, educators, and laypeople will tell their stories and the stories of their ancestors through the lens of those embedded in the struggle.
There's been so many things
that's held us down
But now it looks like things
are finally comin' around
I know we've got, a long, long
way to go
And where we'll end up,
I don't know
The dedicated, skilled team at Regenerative Community Builders, led by CEO Clifford McClain, has secured a 501c3 designation. COVID 19 related federal government delays and backlogs held up the process. However, with the certification, the project is now seeking support from West Michigan foundations committed to racial equity.
(With photo) Andretta is a Producer of narrative and documentary films with over twenty years of experience. Currently, she is working on a documentary about Los Angeles barber, Lawrence Tolliver. Tolliver's Gentleman Barber Shop is more than a place of business – it is a community space for some of the city's most prominent African American men. The conversations there have become legendary.
Andretta is the producer of AS EVIL DOES, an independent narrative feature starring Bill Cobbs and Dorian Missick (currently streaming on IMDB.TV). Her other producing credits include the documentaries RUN LIKE A GURL (Galvanized Unapologetic Real Leader) and AMEN: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF JESTER HAIRSTON and the independent feature INDELIBLE (Rosalyn Coleman, Tristan Wilds, and Emmy-Award winner Ann Dowd). Other production credits include: THE N-WORD documentary, a Peabody Award winner; A. PHILIP RANDOLPH: FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM - an award-winning PBS documentary film (WETATV); BREAKTHROUGH: THE CHANGING FACE OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA, and the Emmy-Award winning PBS documentary series THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
Andretta has an AB from Harvard University and an MFA from the University of Southern California Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program.
(With photo) Garland McLaurin is a Peabody-Award winning filmmaker and Cinematographer. His love for storytelling comes from its power to artistically explore the complex and conflicting social and psychological layers of people and society. He served as cinematographer on the narrative short film Ungubani (Who Are You?). Garland recently co-directed a threehour PBS nationally broadcast series Family Pictures USA. Before that he produced and shot, POPS a 12- episode webseries exploring fatherhood for African American men. He codirected, produced and shot the Peabody winning documentary series, 180 Days A Year Inside an American High School and Hartsville, which aired on PBS. His other professional credits include field producing on CNN's Black in America 4, producer/shooter for WAMU 88.5 American University, BET's special Homecoming: The Killing of DJ Henry. Additional past digital media work includes work for Black Public Media. Garland holds a BA in Radio- TV-Film from Howard University and an MFA from New York University Tisch School of the Arts graduate film school. He currently teaches at NYU.
And if you've ever been held
down before
I know you'll refuse to be held
down anymore!
Don't you let nothing, nothing
Stand in your way!
The Our Home Too production team of accomplished professionals is committed to assisting the next generation of professional filmmakers from Grand Rapids. Full production funding will facilitate our team working closely with, nurturing, and mentoring Grand Rapidians seeking to enhance their professional experiences. Additionally, the project will provide paid internships, entry-level production and research opportunities.
Our Home Too is a film about our community from the community's point of view. Contributions from True Light Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church, Plymouth United Church of Christ, and William Blickley, a community activist and former city commissioner, have made it possible to begin filming in July 2022. However, we need more support from the community in any amount. Mail Tax-deductible contributions to Regenerative Community Builders 2222 W. Grand River Ave. STE A Okemos, MI.
Support self-definition and self-determination with financial donations and/or gathering family photographs, film footage, letters, journals, etc., that can contribute to telling our stories. A process for registering and collecting submitted materials will be announced soon.
Ain't No Stoppin Us Now!
We've got the groove!
Ain't No Stoppin Us Now!
We're on the move!
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