"It’s crazy how life brings us full circle"
Five years ago I made a short doc set in Bloomington. Last week, two people from that era reached out....but first, updates on Spencer Pride.
Dear friends:
Here’s the update on the crowdfunding campaign for the Spencer Pride doc, the story of an LGBTQ+ Center thriving in a rural Indiana town. (You read that right.)
We are up to 66 backers who have donated $6,636 thus far. Thank you! This will go toward editing. The Campaign will remain open through June (Pride month).
If you believe in the power of storytelling and crave positive stories from rural America, you’ve come to the right place!
I invite you to back this project. It adds up, and it helps me show potential major donors and sponsors there’s an audience. I appreciate your help!
This week, we’ve been busy preparing new clips to present at next week’s Center for Rural Engagement Conference in French Lick, IN.
From the schedule:
This is a pretty big deal for us.
The Rural Conference is an important gathering of State-wide community and professional leaders. We were invited to present last year, and the reaction was so positive, it helped me to push ahead with this film.
Next week is an opportunity to get new feedback and meet potential new partners and supporters. I am looking forward to this, especially since…
The unstoppable leadership team from Spencer Pride will be joining us!
When the Spencer Pride founders tell their own stories live, it’s game over! (I figured I would use a sports metaphor, this being Indiana and all….)
Speaking of sports — the NY Knicks are battling the Indiana Pacers tonight.
I am a lifelong Knicks fan, being from NYC. Should I admit this? Am I jeopardizing my local fundraising chances? Can I be both an ambassador for rural Indiana and New York City? I am trying. I will root for a tie.
Meet Raheem
I met Raheem five years ago while making The Earthkeepers, a short doc for Indiana Humanities about a composting start-up in Southern Indiana that worked with ex-offenders. (The founders had a beautiful vision, that both Planet Earth and human beings deserved second chances).
I lost touch with Raheem - until last week:
Hi Mitch, it’s Raheem. Not sure if you remember me? I was involved in one of your docs “EarthKeepers.” I was one of the formerly incarcerated volunteers that worked with EarthKeepers. Black guy long dread locs? Ring any bells? I was just reminiscing and went down the rabbit hole. One of my fondest memories. Hate to say it but I went back to prison shortly after that. Did an additional 3 years. But I’m out now.
Been working and I started a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit of my own called Hands Full of Hope. My main mission is finding a way I can have stable housing for those newly released. As that being my biggest struggle when I was out. At the time you were filming us, I was homeless. But I noticed you are doing a new doc in Spencer. I work in Spencer. I live just a few minutes out of town. It’s crazy how life brings us full circle. It’s great that you’re still telling your beautiful stories. Bringing other lives to the big screen. Well hope we can meet again one day. Until then God bless you!!!!
Last week I met Raheem — in Spencer. He is sweet, thoughtful and serious, determined to realize his dream. I was touched that he reached out. If anyone wants to connect with Raheem, write me and I’ll put you in touch.
Meet Gabriel (and Yulia)
Then, just today, I got a text from the Earthkeepers era — this time from my co-producer Gabriel, who had moved to Florida a few years ago with his wife Yulia:
Hey Mitch!!! I was just thinking about you. Yulia and I joined our friends on an amazing Peruvian adventure here for 2 weeks. We share your love ❤️ of Peru 🇵🇪!!! Such a beautiful country. We are starting to get the idea that we might start leading retreats here!!! Hope you are doing well! Appreciate your email updates!!!
As most of you know, I began doing documentaries in Peru. Gabriel’s text connected my past and present lives. That’s Gabriel for you!
Gabriel is still making videos, and willing to go almost anywhere on the planet, from the Andes to Indiana. His wife Yulia is still leading retreats for women.
These days, funders and filmmakers like to talk about “impact.” I think some of the most impactful outcomes from doing this work — not always obvious — are the enduring friendships and ties that emerge.
Next week, I will let you know how it went at the Rural Conference!
Go Knicks! I mean, go Pacers! - Mitch
Awesome!!! Really appreciate it. It helps keep climbing the mountain. Knowing that others see and hear me!!
They do!