New Documentary Explores the Changing Face of Poverty in America
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Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau this week reveals that while there was no significant change in the poverty rate since 2010, more than 46 million people remain mired in poverty this country. Sojourners, a faith-based social justice organization, has joined Emmy Award-winning producer Linda Midgett to create a new documentary that spotlights the real people behind those numbers. The Line lifts up the stories of both “newly poor” Americans and those who were pushed into deeper poverty by the Great Recession. It follows stories of individuals such as a single father of three from the Chicago suburbs who was laid off from his banking job and is now a regular at the local food pantry, and a fisherman from the Gulf Coast who continues to struggle in the aftermath of the BP oil spill and Hurricane Katrina.
The documentary will premiere in Washington, D.C. on October 2, on the eve of the first presidential debate. To help amplify this issue around the country, Sojourners is encouraging organizations and households to hold their own screenings to coincide with the premiere.
As Spotlight continues to track the latest on poverty and opportunity in the presidential campaigns, OOTS hopes that this film will help draw national attention to these issues during the election season. Spotlight has also compiled a list of organizations that provide a collection of personal stories and accounts of those struggling to overcome with poverty.
Posted by Tamanna
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Here at Out of the Spotlight, we offer a behind-the-scenes look at the latest news and information essential to anyone working to fight poverty. From key political appointees to clashes over policy, we cover the news that doesn’t always make the evening news. Check out Out of the Spotlight for our take on the twists and turns of the latest political developments and their impact on poverty reduction. Topics and ideas are welcome! Just contact mlaracy@aecf.org or watersboots@hotmail.com