'The Revolutionary Optimists' documents a grassroots organization of children in India who seek to change their world - and their lives - one issue at a time, from gaining access to clean water to helping children get their polio immunizations. The film was directed by Nicole Newnham and Maren Grainger-Monsen.
A community group and panelists at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier viewed the documentary, then discussed the issues it presented. The panelists were:
Lars Hasselblad-Torres, who led a group of teens to the World Social Forum in Mumbai
in 2005, and remains connected to India through his volunteer work. Currently he
is Director of the Office of the Creative Economy at the Agency of Commerce.;
Jen Fleckenstein co-manages Clear Water Filtration, a family-owned water treatment
company in Warren, VT. Her company has become active with Pure Water for the
World, a non-profit organization providing sustainable water treatment solutions,
proper sanitation and hygiene education to those in need in both Haiti and
Honduras; and
Anna Casey, Program Officer for International Programs at the Institute for Sustainable
Communities, she supports civil society and advocacy work in Serbia as well as
international climate programs.
Vermont Public Television and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier have teamed up to present Community Cinema, a series of discussions featuring films that are part of VPT's series, Independent Lens.
This program was recorded May 8, 2013. Production supported by ORCA Media.
