“Life tried to bury us, but we are the root and the seed”—mural at Ralph Brooks Park in South Philadelphia.

In this screening of short films, we witness personal journeys of life’s many obstacles and setbacks, and how undeterred, the individuals featured made a path to healing and growth.

Healed People, Heal People: Sydia Bagley, an episode of Walkies
Produced by Shuja Moore
Walkies is a documentary series that follows formerly incarcerated Philadelphians as they tell their stories of personal success after prison.

Breaking from the statistics, Sydia runs a successful catering company and hosts an annual event recognizing those returning citizens who have done good in their community. In this episode, she tells the story of a past trauma and how an unlikely program in prison helped her cope.

The Good Life (USA, 2019, 30 min)
Produced by Carolyn Wilson
A story of trauma, scars, healing, and freedom, The Good Life is one women’s journey of being molested and the pinnacle moment that led to healing from sexual child abuse. This film was created to help others heal from their own trauma and abuse.

Fuel For The Fire: HIV Stigma in the Black Community (USA, 2020, 21 min)
Produced by Asha Mollock
Fuel for the Fire features people in the Black community sharing their experiences of being traumatized by HIV- related stigma, and how they moved beyond and stood up to the challenges they faced.

SEED & SOIL: Personal Journeys of Resilience, Healing and Transformation