This event, organised by Dunja Fehimović with support from Newcastle University’s Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, HaSS Global Fund, and School of Modern Languages, combines film screening and discussion with representatives from two communities in Puerto Rico to examine environmental justice, coloniality, and the role of creative media in community building and activism.

Casa Comunitaria de Medios is a community project focussed on media creation as a tool for collective empowerment. It uses popular education to teach media production, from photography, to filmmaking, and podcasts, in order to keep generating grassroots projects. Examples of these projects include the latest documentary, Aguirre, For Whom?, which tells the story of Aguirre - the most important and innovative company town in the south of Puerto Rico - from the perspective of its poorer and working class sectors.  

Nos tenemos/We Still Here introduces the incredible youth of Comerío, Puerto Rico navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a disaster that brought an unprecedented level of devastation to an island already in economic and political crisis. In the lush mountains in the center of Puerto Rico, 24-year-old Mariangelie Ortiz leads a group of young residents who never thought they would become the leaders of their community, nonetheless find themselves traveling to Washington D.C. to protest in the halls of Congress. Follow them in this coming of age story to find their power and begin creating a sustainable future for themselves and their community.

The films will have English subtitles, and interpreting will be provided to ensure that English speakers can understand and participate in the discussion with representatives from both communities.

Link to Casa Comunitaria de Medios page

Link to We Still Here webpage