‘Discovering Whitehaven’ shown at neighborhood screening

A community screening was held for Discovering Whitehaven, bringing the short documentary back to where the idea and filmmaking process originated.

Discovering Whitehaven shown on movie screen | Photo Credit: Skygaze Studios

The screening was hosted in collaboration with Respect the Haven CDC, a nonprofit working toward community development in the Whitehaven neighborhood. The organization’s founder is featured in the film.

It took place Saturday, Dec. 7, at Berean Missionary Baptist Church at the intersection of Raines Road and Millbranch Road, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The event served as a call-to-action, allowing residents to learn about ways to invest in and make a lasting impact in the community.

Before the event, filmmaker Bianca Ford introduced the film to residents and community members:

"What started as my graduate thesis project for my master's program ended up becoming something much bigger than I expected. It’s a documentary dedicated to the community that I grew up in, Whitehaven. I knew I wanted to feature different organizations, businesses, and individuals who are making an impact in the community. And upon my research, I discovered Respect the Haven, Brwnskn Yoga, and more were really putting in the work in the community, so I reached out for their involvement. Whitehaven isn’t perfect; we have our share of vacant buildings, illegal dumping, violence, and crime. But it’s also a community with amazing people working really hard towards improving education, business, community involvement, and much more. I am a strong advocate for storytelling, and I believe we all have our own unique stories that are worth sharing. This is exactly why I wanted to bring awareness to a story like Whitehaven’s."

Discovering Whitehaven is available to watch on YouTube.