Local, USA

The number of gun violence victims in Chicago may fluctuate, but the psychological trauma in many neighborhoods is constant. How do wounded communities heal? FIRSTHAND: GUN VIOLENCE explores the personal stories of people whose lives have been affected and how each, in their own way, is transforming pain and struggle into hope and action.

For Chicago youth, going from one block to the next can be a high-stress or life-or-death ordeal. India Hart witnessed a shooting in her neighborhood that left her dad wounded. It wasn't the only time she experienced gun violence; her uncle and friend were both killed - leaving India and her parents having to deal with her PTSD. What do you imagine a safe and healing community could be?

The number of gun violence victims in Chicago may fluctuate, but the psychological trauma in many neighborhoods is constant. How do wounded communities heal? FIRSTHAND: GUN VIOLENCE explores the personal stories of people whose lives have been affected and how each, in their own way, is transforming pain and struggle into hope and action.

How does our society support community members after the loss of a loved one to gun violence? Noemi Martinez, who lost her son (and her brother) to gun violence on Chicago's streets, channeled her experience into helping other mothers dealing with similar situations at the nonprofit Chicago Survivors. Noemi's grief remains at her side but she is learning to live beyond her loss.

For five formerly incarcerated individuals who served their time, the only path to redemption and chance to pursue their purpose is through the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Through intimate and, at times, nerve-racking stories, THE POWER OF A PARDON follows these individuals as they show how life-altering a pardon and criminal justice reform can be when trying to build a life after prison.

For five formerly incarcerated individuals who served their time, the only path to redemption and chance to pursue their purpose is through the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Through intimate and, at times, nerve-racking stories, THE POWER OF A PARDON follows these individuals as they show how life-altering a pardon and criminal justice reform can be when trying to build a life after prison.

Native American communities are grappling with the fallout of government policies which separated Native children from their families and stripped them of their culture - first at boarding schools, and later in white adoptive and foster homes. On June 15, 2023, the Supreme Court rejected challenges to ICWA, a victory for Native communities working to overcome generations of trauma.

Denise Lajimodiere (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) talks about the history of the off-reservation Native/Indian boarding schools and the generational trauma they created for the survivors and their loved ones. She also shares how the schools affected her own family as her father and her grandfather were sent to Fort Totten Indian Industrial School in North Dakota.

At a 1974 Senate hearing on the Indian child welfare program, Native mothers like Cheryl Spider DeCoteau spoke about their experiences with raising their children and the policies that challenge their ability. What these women said, and the grassroots movement that followed, led to was the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 - the law is meant "...to protect the best interest of Indian Children..."

Native American communities are grappling with the fallout of government policies which separated Native children from their families and stripped them of their culture - first at boarding schools, and later in white adoptive and foster homes. On June 15, 2023, the Supreme Court rejected challenges to ICWA, a victory for Native communities working to overcome generations of trauma.

Established by Congress, the 14th Amendment promised citizenship in exchange for enlistment, prompting many African American men. They were denied due to Jim Crow laws but still served. The film examines the profound and often-contradictory roles played by Buffalo Soldiers in U.S. history, and how they fought on two sets of front lines: military conflicts abroad and civil rights struggles at home.

Filmmaker Dru Holley talks about Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts, the making of his film, and reveals the catalyst behind it. The director & producer also discusses the complexities of the Buffalo Soldiers and how, although they are a part of American history, their story remains relevant today.