Everywhere We Go Synopsis
Following teenagers in the POC community who are battling mental illness and how it affects them in their everyday life. Everywhere We Go is one of four short social-impact documentaries co-produced by GlobalGirl Media + Women’s Voices Now, summer 2018.
About Everywhere We Go’s Youth Filmmakers
Arielle Davis is a rising Junior at Notre Dame Academy in Culver City, CA. She has lived in several neighborhoods throughout Southern California which strongly developed her social skills and gave her confidence in working with people and dealing with new or uncomfortable situations. Arielle enjoys writing and has been a member of WriteGirl for three years, a non-profit focused on creative writing and mentorship in Los Angeles.
Her poem, Pollera, about her Hispanic background, was published in Sound Generation: The Resonant Voices of Teen Girls. Arielle hopes to become a journalist who reflects on pertinent issues and allows the reader to see the world through her eyes.
Elaina Guerrero is a 17-year-old who lives in San Fernando but spends a majority of her time at her Grandpa’s house in North East Los Angeles. She recently graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School with an Athenian Award, the Gold Presidential award for educational excellence, and an academic cord award. She now studies at UC Berkeley and plans to major in Media Studies with a focus on journalism.
She was passionate about writing since high school, and eventually became the editor-in-chief of her school’s newsletter in her senior year. She also participated in art and photography activities, setting up events such as mini art galleries and exhibits at her school, and also displayed one of her pieces at the Autry Museum in Griffith Park. She plans to continue developing her photography skills and learn digital media.
Keianna Johnson is a freelance filmmaker and writer from Pomona, CA. She is passionate about the destigmatization of mental health disorders in the POC community as well as prioritizing the voices that tend to be overlooked in society. She currently writes for Rookie Magazine as a diarist.
Josie Ramirez is a sophomore who attends LIBRA Academy at Marquez High School. She hopes to advocate for everyone all over the world on any and all issues that they are facing, and give back to her community. As well as being a student, she is a varsity cheerleader, President of the Feminist Club and proud member of Girls Learn International and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Josephine has been awarded a scholarship through Girls Learn International to attend the UN’s Commission of the Status of Women in 2019.
Angie Rodriguez is the first-born of two Mexican immigrants and one of the few girls in her large family. At 22 years old, she will be the first college graduate in her family. Angelica grew up in the streets of South Central Los Angeles which has helped shape her identity today, although she feels her community is considered inferior by outsiders who are unable to see it through her lens. She hopes to give back to the place she calls home.
She is passionate about photography, social media, art and the tech world.
Film Screening Guide
BEFORE YOU WATCH THE FILM, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:
- Has anything ever happened to you that made you feel isolated, that you were the only person ever going through that, and/or felt like you had to keep a secret from the people closest to you?
- If so, how did this affect your life in school, with your friends, and with your family?
- To your knowledge, what is mental illness?
- Does anyone that you know struggle with mental illness?
- If you were struggling with mental illness, are you familiar with resources, either people or organizations that you would feel comfortable reaching out to?
AFTER WATCHING THE FILM, LET’S ASK OURSELVES:
- Natalie mentions that, often, Latina women are not taken seriously regarding mental health due to certain stereotypes. What can we do to ensure people are seen and heard in spite of stereotypes in general? Have you ever felt disregarded because of a particular stereotype?
- Have you ever been silenced or ignored because of a particular stigma associated with what you are looking for information about?
- Lalah talks about one of the reasons for the stigma of mental illness in communities of color is the fact that it is seen as being weak, that it is “a white people thing.” Is that your experience as well? How do you address this in your family, school, community?
- Both Natalie and Lalah mention how they feel especially disregarded by the male figures in their families when talking about mental health. Why might this be so?
- Natalie describes how painting saved her while dealing with depression. Lalah describes how being engaged with others and doing school work helped alleviate her anxiety. If you have struggled with mental illness, what kind of outlets have worked for you and why?
CALL(S) TO ACTION:
On Twitter and Facebook
#EverywhereWeGo #mental #health issues follow. Watch a short doc by #femaleyouth on breaking down barriers to #dialogue in #communitiesofcolor. #mentalhealthawareness. Join the #empathytoactionfilmclub #womensvoicesnow @WomensVoicesNow @GlobalGirlMedia https://bit.ly/2PCfzNZ
On Instagram
#EverywhereWeGo #mental #health issues follow. Watch a short doc by #femaleyouth on breaking down barriers to #dialogue in #communitiesofcolor. #POC #mentalhealthawareness. Join the #empathytoactionfilmclub. #womensvoicesnow #bethechange @Womens_Voices_Now @GlobalGirlMedia https://bit.ly/2PCfzNZ
2. HOST A SCREENING OF THIS FILM using this screening guide:
- At Home
- At Your School
- At Your Youth Group Meeting Place
- At Your Community Center
Include a conversation about mental health using Bring to Mind’s Talk Tool.
3. Take the National Alliance on Mental Illness Stigma Free Pledge.
4. Check in with your friends when they seem down + Support your family members and friends by LISTENING when they want to talk about mental health.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
Check out Project LETS and their extensive list of Resources.
Organizations to Support:
Reading Materials:
- Fight the Stigma:Â 9 Ways To Fight Mental Health Stigma
- Read this article on why mental health is different in communities of color in Rest for Resistance Magazine
- Read this article from Teen Vogue
- Educate yourself: National Alliance on Mental Health
If you have used this Film Screening Guide, let us know!
This film is a co-production of Women’s Voices Now and GlobalGirl Media, created in a co-produced youth summer program focused on empowering the next generation of women and femme-identifying activists, filmmakers, and feminists between the ages of 14-22 years old.
