A Community Bands Together – Premiering “Stories from Boston’s Emerald Necklace.”

The Final Mini-Doc in the Six Part Series!

The past two weeks have been amazing and equally as hectic.  On November 3rd, my full 23-minute “Stories from the Emerald Necklace” documentary was finally premiered at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s annual meeting.  I was told it was met with gasps, sighs, laughter, and applause.  I have no personal recollections of this since I was transformed into a zombie-like state as soon as the screening started – unable to comprehend my surroundings, out of tune with the movie, and generally perplexed and stupefied that the big moment had finally arrived.  Nevertheless, I was assured by those attending that they liked it very much.  In the middle of all this commotion, I have worked as a Production Assistant on a feature film over the past two weeks – 12 hour days and little sleep.  More juice on that experience here.  Let’s get to my last “Story.”  Roger Gottlieb, a master storyteller and author of A Spirituality of Resistance: Finding a Peaceful Heart and Protecting the Earth, recounts a time when city dwellers had to unite to save the west bank of Boston’s best kept secret, Jamaica Pond, from apartment developments.  Roger is a fascinating individual and I hope you enjoy his story.

Only on YouTube: My extended interview with Roger.

See last week’s premiere here – Restoration and Revival of the Muddy River

Nora Lutz and the Pond Jam – Premiering “Stories From Boston’s Emerald Necklace”

Over the hump!  Premiering Part Four of the Six Part Series.

This was the first video I completed for “The Stories Project”.  It’s also one of my favorites because of its’ unique style – in essence, I like to call it my own little rock-doc.  Nora Lutz’s story – The Pond Jam – invites us to take a look at how art, music, family, and community come together and are brought together everyday by the parks.  Enjoy Nora performing a beautiful rendition of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel.”

See last week’s premiere here – Running the Emerald Necklace with Mark Lowenstein

Premiering “Stories from Boston’s Emerald Necklace” – The Green Team 2010

A First Look at the Second Release of a Six Part Series!

Every summer, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy employs urban youth to help with park maintenance and restoration via the Green Team Youth Program.  Through the Stories Project, I was fortunate enough to visit with a few of the Green Teamers this summer.  After spending lunch with them, chatting with them for a few hours and hearing out their personal stories, I left with a feeling of how powerful such an experience can be in a “city kid’s” life. See for yourself – watch “Mad Mike” Michael O’Sullivan, “B-Doggie” Bradley Ortiz, and Josie Bergersen-Lewis recount how their summer with the Green Team has helped them meet new people, form new friendships, expose them to exciting outdoor adventures, and build character and work ethic.

See last week’s premiere here – Marylin Rodriguez and the Franklin Park Hispanic Baseball League

Building Sustainable Neighborhoods: A Blueprint in Boston

We live on the same street, my neighbor and I, and we avoid eye contact at all cost.  I’ve seen him dozens of times; on my way to work, coming back from class, on the weekends…too many times, I feel, to introduce myself now.  As we pass each other in the street, he glances at me but I look down.  Day after day, we pass without saying hello.

We all yearn for a sense of community in our neighborhoods.  Basic human nature tells us to feel comfortable around, welcomed, and valued by our neighbors.  We need to feel a sense of attachment to improve the places we live in.  Therefore, to feel the value of giving back to our communities, we first have to feel valued by our communities. Building sustainable cities and supporting local business starts with caring for and being taken care of by our neighborhood.

Last August, my girlfriend and I embarked on a move to Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood in south central Boston, from Bloomington, Indiana, our beloved college town.  Our sights were set high; according to everyone we spoke to, people seriously love Boston.  Nine hundred miles later, we