The Place That Makes Us

If you’re in the mood for some inspiration, let me make a plug for viewing the new documentary, The Place that Makes Us, which I watched this week on PBS’s excellent America ReFramed series.  This documentary takes us to Youngstown Ohio, and follows the paths of several folks who have decided to stay in town and build a better place.  Among other things, it follows the work of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation as it seeks to rebuild and revitalize the city. The local activists are dedicated, inspiring, and effective.  The film doesn’t sugarcoat things, but it does offer hope that distressed communities can come back.  It’s an excellent look at the real on the ground work of community development.  The documentary is appearing on PBS channels, but it’s also streaming.  You can find out about streaming options here.