Watch The Essentials!
On November 10, we premiered our new documentary, The Essentials, for a virtual audience of members, supporters, and policymakers. On December 10, we released the film to the public!
About the Film
For centuries, US laws and policies have neglected, exploited, and attacked immigrants. Then, the pandemic swept the country, accelerating and magnifying every irreparable harm. Although corporations wouldn’t survive without immigrant workers, and communities wouldn’t thrive without the ideas and cultural influence of immigrant families, our government enabled the spread of the virus, excluded immigrants from relief, and made our essential workers, sacrificial workers. We’re seeing the painfully predictable results in the stories of immigrants across the country right now. The Essentials lifts up the voices of our friends and neighbors from around the world who are facing great barriers to survival, but who fight on nonetheless. Their stories expose the true cost of a global pandemic shouldered by immigrant communities, while also revealing the immense resilience and resistance that will power the coming revolution.
The Essentials is 22 minutes long and features the stories of four immigrants from three different Colorado communities. It was directed by Suzan Beraza of ReelThing Films. Executive Producers are DentaQuest, The Colorado Health Foundation, and Well Being Trust.