The Social Justice Institute will host “The Fixers: Stories from a Greater Cleveland,” an event featuring two documentary screenings and a public dialogue, Thursday, June 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Tinkham Veale University Center, ballroom C.
The Fixers, co-sponsored by SPACES and Art Matters, is a collaborative public art project and film series about the democratic process, public policy and who tells Cleveland’s story during the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC). Local “fixers,” well-networked locals who work for social and economic equity, were asked what they would tell political decision-makers about how public policy is impacting urban American.
In the first film, R.A. Washington and Jacquie Greene address the impact of funding for military-grade equipment on civilian policing. In the second film, Naudia Loftis focuses on young people impacted by neighborhood-level violence in Cleveland’s Kinsman neighborhood.
The evening will be moderated Tim Black, associate professor of sociology and Social Justice Institute leadership team member. Panelists include Avidan Cover, director of the Institute for Global Security Law and Policy and associate professor of Case Western Reserve School of Law, and the subjects of the films, R.A. Washington and Naudia Loftis.
A fixer is a well-networked local who helps a foreign journalist find quick entry into a story by translating for them and introducing them to people who are in the know. The Fixers has sought out Clevelanders who operate like fixers and asked them what kind of Cleveland tour they would give RNC delegates if given the opportunity. Their responses are captured in a series of short films released serially from May 6 through July 21. Each release is being accompanied by screenings and public dialogues around Cleveland.
The event is open to the public, but reservations are requested and can be made by calling 216.368.7568, emailing socialjustice@case.edu or registering online.