I am a Detroiter and an Alumnae of the school this was a non sensational documentary - it was honest and done in great taste - I loved it I found myself crying and smiling the whole way through I appreciate the honesty and the light that you shined on these Young Women in our community. Sabrina Nelson Artist/Activist
As a Detroiter, my confidence and hope for our city grows leaps and bounds when stories like this make it into people's hearts (and to public media). This was a truly beautiful film, for both its subject and tone. I would love to buy a dozen copies on DVD and give them away to friends and strangers alike.
Fabulous film! I love how the school is using a service-learning pedagogy to help pregnant teenagers sustain themselves and transform Detroit. Lots of love for everyone at Catherine Ferguson Academy.
I enjoyed the film very much, but would like to see more of the story. See how this project is progressing and maybe follow-up with any students who have graduated since this was made. It was good to include personal stories, showing the girls at home and also enjoyed the fact blurbs, such as why there is such a lack of public transportation in the city. oh, and a real bonus to me showing the girls being educated about why it is important for babies to be nourished by breast milk while coinciding with milking animals at the farm. Detroit and other cities, heck Michigan in general, need to have their stories told like this and I am excited to see your future work.
Thank you for creating such a beautiful portrayal of Detroit! It's a very thought provoking film that shows the reality of Detroit...but, also the empowerment and perseverance of Detroiters. I appreciate seeing a positive view that is rarely portrayed by the media. I'm completely impressed with the efforts and determination of both the school staff and students.
Well done! Loved it, and what you're doing. How can we get involved? Where are you located? I have to say this is just what Detroit needs. Congratulations on a job well done. Please do an update on the girls you featured!
We watched this film in my Urban Politics class and I was very impressed by the whole story. It is great to see some of the postives that are happening in the Detroit area, espcailly for young mothers for getting second chances like that. I would love to see a follow up to the film in the future.
I'm currently about two thirds of the way through this documentary and my strongest thought is "why the heck isn't anyone doing this in my town?". The way that the farming is integrated into the curriculum is phenomenal. Where I am in the film, the students are using a statistical analysis to sort the apples they picked and determine ways to make the most profit from their harvest. I want to show this documentary to our school board, to our city government, and to every teacher I know. My town (Albion, hour and a half from Detroit along I-94) may be smaller, but we've got an average generational age gap of 16 years- that's a lot of young parents. We have a lot of people who could benefit from urban farming, but we've got a city government that doesn't understand agriculture's value, nor do they understand Michigan farming law...and I want them to see this and know that they are dead wrong about farming being undesirable and dead wrong about it being a bad idea in the cities. When you have a town with little to no job market and a lot of unemployed folks, farming is what brings in money, brings up standards of living, and increases public health and welfare.
Please put this to DVD so I can encourage massive circulation of the DVD and please please please keep up the great work! I would love to see you do more documentaries on our cities and on amazing projects like these that show the world that Detroit (and the rest of the Midwest) can recover from it's industrial collapse with the power of the ideas of people who live and love here.
Maybe you could do a documentary on the agricultural school in Chicago? http://www.chicagoagr.org/
This film made me want to move back to Detroit and volunteer at that school! That is huge, because when you don't live there any more, you only hear the bad stuff. Of course, there was a punctuation error in one of the factoid screens, but I forgive you because you're foreign!!!
Having now finished the documentary, I miss the cider press my grandfather had even more....
That's it, next year, I'm building a press and inviting all the neighbourhood kids over for a cider party, if the apple tree is healthy enough to produce fruit.
Thank you for producing this documentary. I'll be following you on FaceBook and your blog and I hope to see more announcements of great documentaries like this!
Lena is continuing to struggle with life and remaining strong in the face of obstacles. She is working on her GED but having difficulty with the math section. She plans to go on to college in January. The girls are growing beautifully and many think they are fraternal twins since they are so close in size now.
I was absolutely riveted to this piece. What a great documentary about a wonderful group of educators who are providing a positive outlook for these young ladies. Detroit continues to surprise and inspire me with stories like this. I will continue to follow these film makers to see what they can inspire us with next.
This film was amazing !!! we taped it and wathced it a few times and each time we start to tear up at different parts! It is a wonderful thing to see Detroit in a positive way...if Detroit can do it, why not the state, the country, the continent. Even if the urban farming does not succeed, the amount of confidence and knowledge gained, the sense of empowerment, the inclusion of many subjects being learned used in the real world, wow !! i do not know what this type of experience would have done for me as a 16-year old...can;t wait to see what your team putso ut next. Footage can get you so far, but the cinematogrophy (spelling?) and music were wonderful. The factoids were short and sweet and powerful. The flow and progression of the film kept me wanting more and more .... so please give me more !! best of luck and see you soon (on the television that is).
You did such a great job on this film! What a unique and important topic! Hopefully Detroit as a city can follow the example in your film and turn urban farming into a significant part of the economy and way of life in the city. I'm sure as the film gets more exposure, more people will discover what a great documentary it is. The sky is the limit!
I loved seeing a positive view of Detroit and young pregnant mothers. It is such a creative and beneficial idea. Hopefully this project can be implemented all over and help people struggling in this economy.
I was impressed by the documentary. The creation of green farm areas within the city of detroit has great potential to turn a blight of the city into an economic viability. It is good to hear of solution instead of problems
I don't know where to begin to describe so many remarkable things about this movie: Catherine Fergusen Academy, the people who work there, the teen moms AND their babies that spend their days there, the urban farming movement, the possibilities for Detroit and other cities... I'm overwhelmed. And I wasn't ready for the movie to end, either. Thank you, Mascha & Manfred.
This was a remarkable documentary and it clearly shows the potential that these communities have. The teachers in the documentary are doing a fantastic job and have come out with a great plan that I hope will be copied by struggling communities throughout the US.
I really liked the film. I liked the fact that it took place in Detroit and showed how things really are like there. The concept of the film was good because it showed people the struggles that teenage moms go through on a daily basis but it also showed how these young ladies are taking the second chance that is given to them and using it to do something that can have a positive impact on their lives and their families lives.
The film was enlightening to know that people was working together allowing young mothers a second chance by educating them in a positive way. The positivity was so uplifting to see in this documentary. I'd like to see more. The film makers did an excellent job with this piece.
I wanted to express my gratitude on producing such a wonderful film about an oasis of hope in the city I love. Your naked lens focused on the perseverance of these teachers, administrators and most importantly the students/mothers to overcome obstacles to achieve a better tomorrow. Thanks for shinning a light on those beautiful souls that the rest of the media have written off.
I thought this documentary was amazing! It should be the model for all cities to follow in the USA and worldwide. Everyone should know how to grow their own food and learn the importance of health and nutrition above all else. I would love to see a follow up to the documentary showing whether they were able to buy up some of the vacant lots in Detroit and plant more farms for the community. This film should be shown in all of the public and private schools as our children are our future.
What a truely wonderful film. I loved that the scenes were simple and that they spoke for themselves. A very moving and imformative documentary about the plight of the women and staff at Catherine Ferguson Academy. It's heart warming and awe inspiring to see these women work hard at changing their situations and learning skills that they can use. Urban farming is such a wonderful idea for all the vacant land in Detroit. I have been purchasing their produce at Eastern Market without realizing it was for such a wonderful cause, I will definetly continue to do so. I hope to see future documentaries and projects from you!
Loved this movie - I have been raving about it to every one I meet since seeing it. In terms of documentaries this one has a silver lining - the changes thta have come to Detroit and the ability to overcome such advertisy AWESOME! I am all about the organic community and getting closer to our earth - the idea of teaching young moms who might not have any other opportunities how to connect with the earth in such a way gives me great hope for the future. If you haven't see this film - I would highly recommend checking it out!
Great documentary, honest and inspirational! Isn't this the real American Dream? These girls are empowered to turn problems into opportunities, to stand up for their own development, to find a way to support themselves by working together. Furthermore, the project connects these girls with nature, a connection that is lost for many others living in cities...
Let the whole world see this film. If there can be so much hope in a city like Detroit then there is hope for all of us. Spread the word to all people you know and make them watch this film. What a great film, with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye, without taking a breath i have watched it and it made my day. Thank you!
Grown in Detroit is first a social document, that show the desperation an struggle for a future of a group young Mom’s in a dying area in the modern western world. At the other side is a document of hope en shows us the quality of agriculture as a development tool in a Urban Area. Urban Agriculture has a lot of possible strategies. The strategies that is presented in this documentary are the education and development strategy beside the survival strategy. We can say one thing for sure: This Documentary has done Urban Agriculture in the Netherlands a lot of good Publicity and put Urban Agriculture on the Map. We are sure that the people in the US can benefit the same way. So go watch this in your local cinema. Or organize a screening your self!
I'm so excited about this film and about the work of this school. I teach anthropology and have been doing research on re-creating local food systems--this film tells in a simple, direct, well-conceived manner one of the most important stories of our time. Reinventing the infrastructure that allows us to feed ourselves locally, AND to educate ourselves, including our young people, how to make a thriving, alive culture out of our food production--wow, how could that not be a "win-win" as the principal of Catherine Ferguson Academy says?
I can't wait to show this film to my students, and to use it to further excite them about the work that is ahead of us all. Thanks to the film-makers for telling a story that needs to be told, and for the teachers and girls of the school for being the change we need to see in the urban U.S.!
David Syring Assistant Professor of Anthropology University of Minnesota Duluth
This film is a good model for communicating about social issues in a compassionate and direct way. Often when people talk about Detroit, feelings of pity and guilt come through, which is not the case with this film. The film communicates a genuine interest and passion for Detroit as it is now, not as it exists in our imaginations or memories. It tells an honest and beautiful story without romanticizing or aestheticizing poverty.
I saw a screening of this film last night at the University of Michgan, and it is a truly powerful story of a group of people who ARE making a difference in Detroit. Mascha and Manfred's work is transparent, honest and inspiring. Go see it!
I lived 5 years in Detroit and spent many hours working in a volunteer capacity at Catherine Ferguson Academy. During this time i as very blessed to give tours of CFA to the likes of Ossie Davis, Danny Glover, David Korten, NYT staff, Nobel Peace Committee members, folks from South Africa, Europe, South Korea, France, Germany, Hopi Elders...and so many more kindred spirits from around the USA and world. Thus i have a deep and abiding love for the entire staff, students, children, animals, plants, bees and yes the microbes at CFA. They are like family to me! So to see this film brings tears to my eyes...tears of memory...tears of joy..tears of hope...and tears of love! This film is truly outstanding, superb artistry, magnificent content and story line and this film provides us an opportunity to peer into the future....a sustainable future. The foundation of sustainability is our sacred connections with Mother Earth...and our sacred connections with women. The film show so well that the connections between young mothers and Mother Earth are so deep, sacred and healing. We all come from the Earth...we all come through women...and this movie courageously shows us that when we allow young mothers to heal and be nurtured then the entire village grows and is nurtured. This film should be made available to every school in the USA..and beyond...to give a look at the future. This films invites every school to be part of the movement to teach eco-literacy...Earth literacy....as the foundation of every childs educational experience.
This films allows us to see through the lens of Catherine Ferguson Academy the importance of ...the necessity of...the sacred relationship between sacred Earth connections and our own deeper humanity. Mascha and Manfred deserve not only the award for best documentary at this grand Austin Film Festival...but also Academy Awards, Oscars and other recognitions that elevate the artistry and celebrate the story of these young teen mothers in Detroit.
With utmost love for Asenath Andrews, Paul Weertz...and all the CFA family.
To Mascha, Manfred and Suzan...i say THANKS SO MUCH! ...and congratulations on this film...this award...and future awards!!
Mascha Poppenk has said, “It's the people in the film that deserve all the credit; we were so honored that they let us into their live and even film it!”
But, as the saying goes, “"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
Mascha and Manfred Poppenk have – so, so beautifully –made sure we have heard the sound of the transformation and promise offered us all by the example of the programs originating at Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit.
This “little film” is HUGE, on many levels. It points the way out for so many of us who find ourselves to have become “extraneous” people to the dominant economic system. Instead of embracing victimhood, the young women at Catherine Ferguson Academy are learning and succeeding at helping themselves and, in the process of striving to create a piece of a new, independent economy, show us all the path to follow out of the morass we’ve allowed the elites to make of our society.
Make SURE you see this important, beautiful film!!
Makes me proud of what people are doing to help our city bounce back. The biggest issue is the crime situation in the city. The urban/rural beauty that is now Detroit has much potential for those with vision. Thank you to these filmmakers for their investment.
Really loved this film, grew up near the area - so sad to have to watch whats happening - but this is a great film. Beautiful camera work, lighting, and love the intimate portraits of the very real situations happening in Michigan.
I tripped up on this film while researching detroit in view of buying a place there. It was a wonderful evening, sitting with my collaborators and watching a warts and all but heartwarming doco about this unique city. It was also fascinating watching it 6-months pregnant, and this drew sharply into focus the different experiences that these young mothers may have. They are brave, and their teachers courageous. I hope the initiative continues to grow, and that the girls realise the possibilities contained within the lowest ebb... the turning of the tide.
Saw the movie and was really glad to see the other side of the US and the fact that there are still people who care for the less fortunate in this world. The filmmakers did the same with another documentary about a school for children with learning and behavior problems in Amsterdam - The Netherlands. Keep up the good work!!!
There are many powerful and beautiful things about "Grown in Detroit," but for me the most powerful and beautiful thing is the fact that the film lets the people of Ferguson Academy tell their own stories by simply observing (and not questioning) them. And I think the simple B&W text insertions are way more powerful than the all-too-common-in-a-documentary voiceover narration. "Grown in Detroit" proves yet again that Detroit is not dead. Far from it. Hopefully gardens of beauty like Ferguson will spread across the city, state, nation and world. Here's to that!
I loved the teacher's comment to the new students: "didn't they have a farm in your old school? they didn't?! What kind of a school is that?!" What kind indeed! Every single child should be milking goats, growing food, thinking about "agricultural business" -- as Wendell Berry says, "the act of eating is an agricultural act." This film is sacred work: we need these stories, we need these beautiful women in their full power. Gratitude and blessings on Catherine Ferguson Academy and the filmmakers.
In a world where organic is a trendy idea and only the rich can afford the organic produce at the grocery store this was a refreshing film about the benefits of organic farming. In the film someone said this is a win-win situation, and I could not agree more. The benefits that these young women take from this knowledge of farming and self owned business can be applied to many different aspects of life and the city of Detroit residence can also benefit from low cost healthy produce and products. What can be learned from this film can be applied to many communities that are seeing the unfortunate effects of this down economy and the results of factories leaving an area lost with nothing to look forward to.
As a Norwegian, having seen the movie and read some of the coments, it isn't any kind of unclear that this is a movie made for a US domestic market. Yet on the other side this movie does prove that one good idea can change lives in an entire city, and altohugh agriculture can not be used for every town, I am sure that there are other ways to include practical learning to help adult-kids to gain a better footing in the world they way to early become a part of.
About the movie: I like how it went from the introduction where it seems to be focused on more of Detroits "bad" sides... the negative. We see from the classroom that many of the students doesn't seem interested in what is going on. Yet this progresses and further into the course (have no idea if this is a 1 year thing or more?) how they get involved, how they see that this matter and how this can help in so many ways.
For this kids to learn agriculture they learn for themselves value of healthy food, for them and their children. If they can produce by themselves (og in a group) they can earn money on a buisness and save money on own-grown foods. In the learning process many different types of subjects are being entwined into the buisness. And also this project is taking advantage of free land in Detroit making it useful again instead of being empty lots.
I also want to coment on what I thought was a great image. When we see the small children have nap tip, it cuts to two students also sleeping. It was one of the strongest points made that the young kids and students are BOTH "kids" in a way... (hope you understood that).
Good job on the movie, thank you for letting me watch. Katrine.W Student at Uni.Lillehammer. Norway Movie- and Tv-Sience
This was an excellent representation of how hope itself can be cultivated, nurtured and grown in people as well in cities that are looking for another chance at life!
Beautifully done and thoughtfully demonstrated.
Kudos to everyone for their hard work and perseverence!
1) empowerment of each individual; 2) creative use of resources; 3) eco-friendly farming; and 4) emphasis on healthy eating.
These are issues that many people are very interested in today. I thought the film did an outstanding job of showing how a situation which might be perceived as very negative (teen pregnancy) could be turned into an opportunity (learning entrepreneurship by growing and selling produce). The film is a job well done.
I was so moved by this beautiful film. Your passionate work to help these young women create a healthy future is outstanding. I would like to help promote your efforts on our website www.askinyourface.com. We are a Michigan website all about informing and inspiring women to be fit for their future in every way possible. Please contact me at info@askinyourface. Yours Truly, Allison Stuart Kaplan
The almost opening statement: "You can't determine the kind of ancestors you inherit, but you can determine the kind of ancestor you will be", is a good introduction. I like the fact that it illustrated turning negatives into positives. I loved the young women in the film. I loved the honesty in the film. I think that it is time for us to start similar programs in all our cities. Paul McIntyre
What a powerful movie experiance. I'm going to college in Tarpon Springs, Florida and trying to inspire my college to do a small local farm. I would love to find out how I can support you and show your video to others. Our school has these great summer trip programs and there to these out of nation areas, I would much rather visit within America and do an activity. I also wanted to find out about setting up summer intern programs. During the summer in Florida its incredibly too hot to grow food.
Great film! I particularly liked its honesty, and I thought it well-edited. Didn't like the music for it, which I thought too eerie for the content. But all in all, a great film, and I'm glad this effort was documented.
That said, the idea of turning the vacant lots of Detroit over to farming is really exciting! Urban farming has been a particular interest of mine for awhile- I hope this idea catches on in other cities. Thank you for making this film!
I thoroughly enjoyed the film, but for me watching the film and reading the positive reactions posted here changed my perspective. There is a sense of pride in the accomplishments and the novelty of the idea, as well as the desire to see a positive story emerge from Detroit that balanced some of the nagging questions I had after watching the film. I enjoyed the honesty of the film, not portraying the farm activities as a utopian ideal, but an activity that the young mothers were engaged with to varying degrees, from the keen summer students to the dozing student or cellphone toting apple picker. I would have liked to see more reactions from the mother's themselves on the perceived value of their farming activities, and the structure of the school. There seemed to be a heavy emphasis on the official goals as outlined by the science teacher and the headmistress. In the end, an excellent and thoughtprovoking film.
A fantastic film showcasing how people can make a difference - those who inspire and make things like this possible and also those that contribute/participate. I was truly inspired by the girls participation and enthusiasm. Inspired by the teachers - their passion, motivation and relationships with the girls. I'm a dietitian, working with the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition program in Toronto - educating women, including teens, on how to follow a healthy diet to improve the health of themselves and their babies as well as promote breastfeeding, I look forward to showing this video to them as it becomes available to educate them from a different perspective - one that makes them think differently about the food they feed their familes. As the narrator says, food comes from the ground, not the grocery store!
My only critique is that the film was too short. There was so much more I wanted to see, so much possibility in this school and this movement. Just an all around inspiration to watch and learn from. A concise story with a clear sense of purpose throughout the film. Bravo.
I am a Detroiter and an Alumnae of the school this was a non sensational documentary - it was honest and done in great taste - I loved it I found myself crying and smiling the whole way through I appreciate the honesty and the light that you shined on these Young Women in our community. Sabrina Nelson Artist/Activist
ReplyDeleteAs a Detroiter, my confidence and hope for our city grows leaps and bounds when stories like this make it into people's hearts (and to public media). This was a truly beautiful film, for both its subject and tone. I would love to buy a dozen copies on DVD and give them away to friends and strangers alike.
ReplyDeleteFabulous film! I love how the school is using a service-learning pedagogy to help pregnant teenagers sustain themselves and transform Detroit. Lots of love for everyone at Catherine Ferguson Academy.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the film very much, but would like to see more of the story. See how this project is progressing and maybe follow-up with any students who have graduated since this was made. It was good to include personal stories, showing the girls at home and also enjoyed the fact blurbs, such as why there is such a lack of public transportation in the city.
ReplyDeleteoh, and a real bonus to me showing the girls being educated about why it is important for babies to be nourished by breast milk while coinciding with milking animals at the farm.
Detroit and other cities, heck Michigan in general, need to have their stories told like this and I am excited to see your future work.
Heidi P
Thank you for creating such a beautiful portrayal of Detroit! It's a very thought provoking film that shows the reality of Detroit...but, also the empowerment and perseverance of Detroiters. I appreciate seeing a positive view that is rarely portrayed by the media. I'm completely impressed with the efforts and determination of both the school staff and students.
ReplyDeleteWell done! Loved it, and what you're doing. How can we get involved? Where are you located? I have to say this is just what Detroit needs. Congratulations on a job well done. Please do an update on the girls you featured!
ReplyDeleteCarey Geyer
We watched this film in my Urban Politics class and I was very impressed by the whole story. It is great to see some of the postives that are happening in the Detroit area, espcailly for young mothers for getting second chances like that. I would love to see a follow up to the film in the future.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently about two thirds of the way through this documentary and my strongest thought is "why the heck isn't anyone doing this in my town?". The way that the farming is integrated into the curriculum is phenomenal. Where I am in the film, the students are using a statistical analysis to sort the apples they picked and determine ways to make the most profit from their harvest. I want to show this documentary to our school board, to our city government, and to every teacher I know. My town (Albion, hour and a half from Detroit along I-94) may be smaller, but we've got an average generational age gap of 16 years- that's a lot of young parents. We have a lot of people who could benefit from urban farming, but we've got a city government that doesn't understand agriculture's value, nor do they understand Michigan farming law...and I want them to see this and know that they are dead wrong about farming being undesirable and dead wrong about it being a bad idea in the cities. When you have a town with little to no job market and a lot of unemployed folks, farming is what brings in money, brings up standards of living, and increases public health and welfare.
ReplyDeletePlease put this to DVD so I can encourage massive circulation of the DVD and please please please keep up the great work! I would love to see you do more documentaries on our cities and on amazing projects like these that show the world that Detroit (and the rest of the Midwest) can recover from it's industrial collapse with the power of the ideas of people who live and love here.
Maybe you could do a documentary on the agricultural school in Chicago?
http://www.chicagoagr.org/
This film made me want to move back to Detroit and volunteer at that school! That is huge, because when you don't live there any more, you only hear the bad stuff.
ReplyDeleteOf course, there was a punctuation error in one of the factoid screens, but I forgive you because you're foreign!!!
Having now finished the documentary, I miss the cider press my grandfather had even more....
ReplyDeleteThat's it, next year, I'm building a press and inviting all the neighbourhood kids over for a cider party, if the apple tree is healthy enough to produce fruit.
Thank you for producing this documentary. I'll be following you on FaceBook and your blog and I hope to see more announcements of great documentaries like this!
Lena is continuing to struggle with life and remaining strong in the face of obstacles.
ReplyDeleteShe is working on her GED but having difficulty with the math section. She plans to go on to college in January. The girls are growing beautifully and many think they are fraternal twins since they are so close in size now.
I was absolutely riveted to this piece. What a great documentary about a wonderful group of educators who are providing a positive outlook for these young ladies. Detroit continues to surprise and inspire me with stories like this. I will continue to follow these film makers to see what they can inspire us with next.
ReplyDeleteThis film was amazing !!! we taped it and wathced it a few times and each time we start to tear up at different parts! It is a wonderful thing to see Detroit in a positive way...if Detroit can do it, why not the state, the country, the continent. Even if the urban farming does not succeed, the amount of confidence and knowledge gained, the sense of empowerment, the inclusion of many subjects being learned used in the real world, wow !! i do not know what this type of experience would have done for me as a 16-year old...can;t wait to see what your team putso ut next. Footage can get you so far, but the cinematogrophy (spelling?) and music were wonderful. The factoids were short and sweet and powerful. The flow and progression of the film kept me wanting more and more .... so please give me more !! best of luck and see you soon (on the television that is).
ReplyDeleteYou did such a great job on this film! What a unique and important topic! Hopefully Detroit as a city can follow the example in your film and turn urban farming into a significant part of the economy and way of life in the city. I'm sure as the film gets more exposure, more people will discover what a great documentary it is. The sky is the limit!
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing a positive view of Detroit and young pregnant mothers. It is such a creative and beneficial idea. Hopefully this project can be implemented all over and help people struggling in this economy.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed by the documentary. The creation of green farm areas within the city of detroit has great potential to turn a blight of the city into an economic viability. It is good to hear of solution instead of problems
ReplyDeleteI don't know where to begin to describe so many remarkable things about this movie: Catherine Fergusen Academy, the people who work there, the teen moms AND their babies that spend their days there, the urban farming movement, the possibilities for Detroit and other cities... I'm overwhelmed. And I wasn't ready for the movie to end, either. Thank you, Mascha & Manfred.
ReplyDeleteThis was a remarkable documentary and it clearly shows the potential that these communities have. The teachers in the documentary are doing a fantastic job and have come out with a great plan that I hope will be copied by struggling communities throughout the US.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the film. I liked the fact that it took place in Detroit and showed how things really are like there. The concept of the film was good because it showed people the struggles that teenage moms go through on a daily basis but it also showed how these young ladies are taking the second chance that is given to them and using it to do something that can have a positive impact on their lives and their families lives.
ReplyDeleteThe film was enlightening to know that people was working together allowing young mothers a second chance by educating them in a positive way. The positivity was so uplifting to see in this documentary. I'd like to see more. The film makers did an excellent job with this piece.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to express my gratitude on producing such a wonderful film about an oasis of hope in the city I love. Your naked lens focused on the perseverance of these teachers, administrators and most importantly the students/mothers to overcome obstacles to achieve a better tomorrow. Thanks for shinning a light on those beautiful souls that the rest of the media have written off.
ReplyDeleteI thought this documentary was amazing! It should be the model for all cities to follow in the USA and worldwide. Everyone should know how to grow their own food and learn the importance of health and nutrition above all else. I would love to see a follow up to the documentary showing whether they were able to buy up some of the vacant lots in Detroit and plant more farms for the community. This film should be shown in all of the public and private schools as our children are our future.
ReplyDeleteWhat a truely wonderful film. I loved that the scenes were simple and that they spoke for themselves. A very moving and imformative documentary about the plight of the women and staff at Catherine Ferguson Academy. It's heart warming and awe inspiring to see these women work hard at changing their situations and learning skills that they can use. Urban farming is such a wonderful idea for all the vacant land in Detroit. I have been purchasing their produce at Eastern Market without realizing it was for such a wonderful cause, I will definetly continue to do so. I hope to see future documentaries and projects from you!
ReplyDeleteLoved this movie - I have been raving about it to every one I meet since seeing it. In terms of documentaries this one has a silver lining - the changes thta have come to Detroit and the ability to overcome such advertisy AWESOME! I am all about the organic community and getting closer to our earth - the idea of teaching young moms who might not have any other opportunities how to connect with the earth in such a way gives me great hope for the future. If you haven't see this film - I would highly recommend checking it out!
ReplyDeleteGreat documentary, honest and inspirational! Isn't this the real American Dream? These girls are empowered to turn problems into opportunities, to stand up for their own development, to find a way to support themselves by working together. Furthermore, the project connects these girls with nature, a connection that is lost for many others living in cities...
ReplyDeleteLet the whole world see this film. If there can be so much hope in a city like Detroit then there is hope for all of us. Spread the word to all people you know and make them watch this film. What a great film, with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye, without taking a breath i have watched it and it made my day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGrown in Detroit is first a social document, that show the desperation an struggle for a future of a group young Mom’s in a dying area in the modern western world. At the other side is a document of hope en shows us the quality of agriculture as a development tool in a Urban Area. Urban Agriculture has a lot of possible strategies. The strategies that is presented in this documentary are the education and development strategy beside the survival strategy.
ReplyDeleteWe can say one thing for sure: This Documentary has done Urban Agriculture in the Netherlands a lot of good Publicity and put Urban Agriculture on the Map. We are sure that the people in the US can benefit the same way. So go watch this in your local cinema. Or organize a screening your self!
I'm so excited about this film and about the work of this school. I teach anthropology and have been doing research on re-creating local food systems--this film tells in a simple, direct, well-conceived manner one of the most important stories of our time. Reinventing the infrastructure that allows us to feed ourselves locally, AND to educate ourselves, including our young people, how to make a thriving, alive culture out of our food production--wow, how could that not be a "win-win" as the principal of Catherine Ferguson Academy says?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to show this film to my students, and to use it to further excite them about the work that is ahead of us all. Thanks to the film-makers for telling a story that needs to be told, and for the teachers and girls of the school for being the change we need to see in the urban U.S.!
David Syring
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
University of Minnesota Duluth
This film is a good model for communicating about social issues in a compassionate and direct way. Often when people talk about Detroit, feelings of pity and guilt come through, which is not the case with this film. The film communicates a genuine interest and passion for Detroit as it is now, not as it exists in our imaginations or memories. It tells an honest and beautiful story without romanticizing or aestheticizing poverty.
ReplyDeleteI saw a screening of this film last night at the University of Michgan, and it is a truly powerful story of a group of people who ARE making a difference in Detroit. Mascha and Manfred's work is transparent, honest and inspiring. Go see it!
ReplyDelete-Allison Riccardi
Lecturer, UM
Great film...super visuals....wonderful talent!
ReplyDeleteBut i am in love with CFA!
I lived 5 years in Detroit and spent many hours working in a volunteer capacity at Catherine Ferguson Academy. During this time i as very blessed to give tours of CFA to the likes of Ossie Davis, Danny Glover, David Korten, NYT staff, Nobel Peace Committee members, folks from South Africa, Europe, South Korea, France, Germany, Hopi Elders...and so many more kindred spirits from around the USA and world. Thus i have a deep and abiding love for the entire staff, students, children, animals, plants, bees and yes the microbes at CFA. They are like family to me!
So to see this film brings tears to my eyes...tears of memory...tears of joy..tears of hope...and tears of love! This film is truly outstanding, superb artistry, magnificent content and story line and this film provides us an opportunity to peer into the future....a sustainable future. The foundation of sustainability is our sacred connections with Mother Earth...and our sacred connections with women. The film show so well that the connections between young mothers and Mother Earth are so deep, sacred and healing. We all come from the Earth...we all come through women...and this movie courageously shows us that when we allow young mothers to heal and be nurtured then the entire village grows and is nurtured.
This film should be made available to every school in the USA..and beyond...to give a look at the future. This films invites every school to be part of the movement to teach eco-literacy...Earth literacy....as the foundation of every childs educational experience.
This films allows us to see through the lens of Catherine Ferguson Academy the importance of ...the necessity of...the sacred relationship between sacred Earth connections and our own deeper humanity.
Mascha and Manfred deserve not only the award for best documentary at this grand Austin Film Festival...but also Academy Awards, Oscars and other recognitions that elevate the artistry and celebrate the story of these young teen mothers in Detroit.
With utmost love for Asenath Andrews, Paul Weertz...and all the CFA family.
To Mascha, Manfred and Suzan...i say THANKS SO MUCH! ...and congratulations on this film...this award...and future awards!!
Mascha Poppenk has said, “It's the people in the film that deserve all the credit; we were so honored that they let us into their live and even film it!”
ReplyDeleteBut, as the saying goes, “"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
Mascha and Manfred Poppenk have – so, so beautifully –made sure we have heard the sound of the transformation and promise offered us all by the example of the programs originating at Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit.
This “little film” is HUGE, on many levels. It points the way out for so many of us who find ourselves to have become “extraneous” people to the dominant economic system. Instead of embracing victimhood, the young women at Catherine Ferguson Academy are learning and succeeding at helping themselves and, in the process of striving to create a piece of a new, independent economy, show us all the path to follow out of the morass we’ve allowed the elites to make of our society.
Make SURE you see this important, beautiful film!!
Makes me proud of what people are doing to help our city bounce back. The biggest issue is the crime situation in the city. The urban/rural beauty that is now Detroit has much potential for those with vision. Thank you to these filmmakers for their investment.
ReplyDeleteReally loved this film, grew up near the area - so sad to have to watch whats happening - but this is a great film. Beautiful camera work, lighting, and love the intimate portraits of the very real situations happening in Michigan.
ReplyDeleteI tripped up on this film while researching detroit in view of buying a place there. It was a wonderful evening, sitting with my collaborators and watching a warts and all but heartwarming doco about this unique city. It was also fascinating watching it 6-months pregnant, and this drew sharply into focus the different experiences that these young mothers may have. They are brave, and their teachers courageous. I hope the initiative continues to grow, and that the girls realise the possibilities contained within the lowest ebb... the turning of the tide.
ReplyDeleteSaw the movie and was really glad to see the other side of the US and the fact that there are still people who care for the less fortunate in this world. The filmmakers did the same with another documentary about a school for children with learning and behavior problems in Amsterdam - The Netherlands. Keep up the good work!!!
ReplyDeleteRusty R
There are many powerful and beautiful things about "Grown in Detroit," but for me the most powerful and beautiful thing is the fact that the film lets the people of Ferguson Academy tell their own stories by simply observing (and not questioning) them. And I think the simple B&W text insertions are way more powerful than the all-too-common-in-a-documentary voiceover narration. "Grown in Detroit" proves yet again that Detroit is not dead. Far from it. Hopefully gardens of beauty like Ferguson will spread across the city, state, nation and world. Here's to that!
ReplyDeleteI loved the teacher's comment to the new students: "didn't they have a farm in your old school? they didn't?! What kind of a school is that?!"
ReplyDeleteWhat kind indeed! Every single child should be milking goats, growing food, thinking about "agricultural business" -- as Wendell Berry says, "the act of eating is an agricultural act."
This film is sacred work: we need these stories, we need these beautiful women in their full power.
Gratitude and blessings on Catherine Ferguson Academy and the filmmakers.
In a world where organic is a trendy idea and only the rich can afford the organic produce at the grocery store this was a refreshing film about the benefits of organic farming. In the film someone said this is a win-win situation, and I could not agree more. The benefits that these young women take from this knowledge of farming and self owned business can be applied to many different aspects of life and the city of Detroit residence can also benefit from low cost healthy produce and products. What can be learned from this film can be applied to many communities that are seeing the unfortunate effects of this down economy and the results of factories leaving an area lost with nothing to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteAs a Norwegian, having seen the movie and read some of the coments, it isn't any kind of unclear that this is a movie made for a US domestic market. Yet on the other side this movie does prove that one good idea can change lives in an entire city, and altohugh agriculture can not be used for every town, I am sure that there are other ways to include practical learning to help adult-kids to gain a better footing in the world they way to early become a part of.
ReplyDeleteAbout the movie: I like how it went from the introduction where it seems to be focused on more of Detroits "bad" sides... the negative. We see from the classroom that many of the students doesn't seem interested in what is going on. Yet this progresses and further into the course (have no idea if this is a 1 year thing or more?) how they get involved, how they see that this matter and how this can help in so many ways.
For this kids to learn agriculture they learn for themselves value of healthy food, for them and their children. If they can produce by themselves (og in a group) they can earn money on a buisness and save money on own-grown foods. In the learning process many different types of subjects are being entwined into the buisness. And also this project is taking advantage of free land in Detroit making it useful again instead of being empty lots.
I also want to coment on what I thought was a great image. When we see the small children have nap tip, it cuts to two students also sleeping. It was one of the strongest points made that the young kids and students are BOTH "kids" in a way... (hope you understood that).
Good job on the movie, thank you for letting me watch.
Katrine.W
Student at Uni.Lillehammer. Norway
Movie- and Tv-Sience
This was an excellent representation of how hope itself can be cultivated, nurtured and grown in people as well in cities that are looking for another chance at life!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done and thoughtfully demonstrated.
Kudos to everyone for their hard work and perseverence!
J. A. Carlton
Screenwriter
For me, the film had several important messages:
ReplyDelete1) empowerment of each individual;
2) creative use of resources;
3) eco-friendly farming; and
4) emphasis on healthy eating.
These are issues that many people are very interested in today. I thought the film did an outstanding job of showing how a situation which might be perceived as very negative (teen pregnancy) could be turned into an opportunity (learning entrepreneurship by growing and selling produce). The film is a job well done.
I was so moved by this beautiful film. Your passionate work to help these young women create a healthy future is outstanding. I would like to help promote your efforts on our website www.askinyourface.com. We are a Michigan website all about informing and inspiring women to be fit for their future in every way possible. Please contact me at info@askinyourface. Yours Truly, Allison Stuart Kaplan
ReplyDeleteThe almost opening statement: "You can't determine the kind of ancestors you inherit, but you can determine the kind of ancestor you will be", is a good introduction. I like the fact that it illustrated turning negatives into positives. I loved the young women in the film. I loved the honesty in the film. I think that it is time for us to start similar programs in all our cities. Paul McIntyre
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful movie experiance. I'm going to college in Tarpon Springs, Florida and trying to inspire my college to do a small local farm. I would love to find out how I can support you and show your video to others. Our school has these great summer trip programs and there to these out of nation areas, I would much rather visit within America and do an activity. I also wanted to find out about setting up summer intern programs. During the summer in Florida its incredibly too hot to grow food.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Eric
Great film! I particularly liked its honesty, and I thought it well-edited. Didn't like the music for it, which I thought too eerie for the content. But all in all, a great film, and I'm glad this effort was documented.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the idea of turning the vacant lots of Detroit over to farming is really exciting! Urban farming has been a particular interest of mine for awhile- I hope this idea catches on in other cities. Thank you for making this film!
I thoroughly enjoyed the film, but for me watching the film and reading the positive reactions posted here changed my perspective. There is a sense of pride in the accomplishments and the novelty of the idea, as well as the desire to see a positive story emerge from Detroit that balanced some of the nagging questions I had after watching the film. I enjoyed the honesty of the film, not portraying the farm activities as a utopian ideal, but an activity that the young mothers were engaged with to varying degrees, from the keen summer students to the dozing student or cellphone toting apple picker. I would have liked to see more reactions from the mother's themselves on the perceived value of their farming activities, and the structure of the school. There seemed to be a heavy emphasis on the official goals as outlined by the science teacher and the headmistress. In the end, an excellent and thoughtprovoking film.
ReplyDeleteA fantastic film showcasing how people can make a difference - those who inspire and make things like this possible and also those that contribute/participate. I was truly inspired by the girls participation and enthusiasm. Inspired by the teachers - their passion, motivation and relationships with the girls. I'm a dietitian, working with the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition program in Toronto - educating women, including teens, on how to follow a healthy diet to improve the health of themselves and their babies as well as promote breastfeeding, I look forward to showing this video to them as it becomes available to educate them from a different perspective - one that makes them think differently about the food they feed their familes. As the narrator says, food comes from the ground, not the grocery store!
ReplyDeleteMy only critique is that the film was too short. There was so much more I wanted to see, so much possibility in this school and this movement. Just an all around inspiration to watch and learn from. A concise story with a clear sense of purpose throughout the film. Bravo.
ReplyDelete