Imagining Home: An Evening of Film and Theatre Benefitting SW HOPE: Feed the Hungry

In conjunction with the SW HOPE: Feed the Hungry campaign, Hillsdale Community Church in SW Portland will sponsor an evening of thought-provoking film and theater to raise awareness about the effects of poverty and social inequity in our community. Filmmakers Sue Arbuthnot and Richard Wilhelm of Hare in the Gate Productions, LLC will be on hand to present their award-winning feature documentary, Imagining Home, chronicling the revitalization of North Portland’s Columbia Villa into New Columbia.

Winner of the 2009 Northwest Film & Video Festival’s Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Imagining Home explores issues of race, class, and the power to reach personal goals against many odds. This powerfully emotional story shows how good neighborhood design and inclusive planning benefits all and asks, “how can we work together to promote equitable, sustainable communities into the future?” Joining the filmmakers will be several main characters from the film whose leadership contributed to New Columbia’s success and international acclaim.

In an innovative collaboration between film and theater, Hare in the Gate welcomes Portland’s Playback Theater—a theater of storytelling—who’s mission is to bear witness to the differences and commonality between people, fostering a better understanding of our universal human experience. During this interactive performance, audience members share personal stories from their lives in response to Imagining Home, and watch them reenacted on the spot by this professional ensemble of actors, musicians, and dancers.

A free-will offering will be collected at the event to benefit SW HOPE: Feed the Hungry campaign, a coalition of 72 faith, business, and community organizations working to meet the needs of hungry Southwest Portland residents. SW HOPE collects food and funds for Neighborhood House’s Emergency Food Box Program, the largest food pantry program in Southwest Portland.

For more information, contact Hillsdale Community Church’s pastor, Rev. Jennifer Brownell at (503) 246-5474, or pastor@hillsdaleucc.org.