Trauma informed processes in video production for nonprofits creates a safe space for community to heal and fundraise for Association House of Chicago.
April is a Chicagoan with a degree in Chemistry that one day dreams of being an author. Her story is the thing she values most about herself. She currently lives with her son, Thomas, who shares her love of science and enjoys sports. April sought mental health services at Association House for herself and her son. Through the process of working together, April was able to establish herself and her son outside of a harmful marriage. Working with the team at Association House and Fig Media, April was ready to tell her story on her own terms. We designed a trauma informed experience that allowed April to tell her story without asking her to relive her traumas on camera. The result, April read her first published poem upon the conclusion of the film to a captivated audience that rose to their feet to celebrate her. The film is currently being used to continue fundraising efforts.
Challenges
April's journey to healing is one that unfortunately is not unique. April represents a large population of women in the city. In Chicago, more than half of female victims live in homes that include children under the age of 12. Women are eight times more likely than men to be physically or emotionally abused. Domestic incidence are five times more likely to affect women that the most present disease in Chicago. (Sources: Chicagojustice.org, Chicago.gov)
The history of community mental health programs in Chicago is bleak. Moving from 12 community mental health clinics in 2011 to five currently and while the city has publicly pledged millions to correct this community injustice - movement is not fast enough. Association House of Chicago provides all its participants, no matter where they start, support that society often lacks. That care leads people, like April, to address the root causes and barriers that keep people from leading productive lives.
Fig director Melissa Fox coached April to write about her experiences and Association House of Chicago provided the structural mental health services to support April in retelling her narrative. April was ready to claim her story, we made sure she felt safe and confident the entire time.
How our services were used
“Creating spaces for people to unfold their truths while giving them the structure to talk about trauma, is a cornerstone of the work we do in fundraising documentaries. As a filmmaker working in the community I have a responsibility to combat the harm our media outlets cause by exploiting trauma. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with our clients to tell these stories and redefine the role of media in healing narratives.”
Script To Screen Services.
ScreenWriting for two films.
Production Services. Full Editing Suite.
Dedicated Director.
4 films, each for a unique purpose both at the event and post-event.
One main fundraising Narrative.
One short brand film
Two awardee celebration shorts.
DJ services for fundraising event at Lacuna Lofts
Results
“ We worked with Fig media to create four films in conjunction with our annual Faces of Hope gala. These films set the tone for our event, introducing new audiences to our organization, and inviting existing supporters into deeper partnership. This year, we also needed the films to serve dual purposes throughout the year. Fig listened carefully to this need and crafted films that could be re-used in funder pitches, recruitment, and donor stewardship. In all they do, the Fig team is exceptional. They took time to understand our goals and worked collaboratively to achieve them. It's rare to have a vendor that truly feels like a part of the team. Fig media is that rare vendor. Their incredible story-telling, artistry, and passion shows through in all they do. One of the reasons I return to Fig each year, is how safe they make our participants feel in telling their stories. Our participants share some of their most vulnerable moments in crafting each film. Fig helps to shape these vulnerabilities into triumphant hero narratives that help our participants reclaim their own stories. ”
Lillian Bui, CFRE (she/her) Development Director
https://www.associationhouse.org
TEAM
DJ: Alvin Black
Executive Directors: James and Michele Gustin
Writer / Director: Melissa Fox
Camera: Melissa Fox, Brian Carey, Codi Palm
Editors: George Medina and Codi Palm
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