Lotts Creek

Lotts Creek (1999)

Lead Artists: Nick Szuberla, Danielle Burke of Appalachian Media Institute, and students of Lotts Creek Community School.
Partner Artist: American Festival Project, Appalachian Media Institute, Lotts Creek Community School, and Amira Haqq
Organizers: Kevin Pentz of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Lotts Creek Community School students, Maureen Mullinax of the Appalachian Media Institute, Greg Howard of Community Media Initiative 
Additional documentation: 12 negatives, 139 digital photos, 11 hours of video.

While leading an arts residency in documentary filmmaking with grade school students at Lotts Creek Community School in Knott County, Kentucky, the young participants successfully campaigned to protect their water supply from mining.

Initially, these students were busy producing short documentaries focusing on positive aspects of their community. However, their path took an unexpected turn when they encountered state officials who had conducted pre-blast surveys near their homes. Realizing the imminent threat to their community, these students swiftly mobilized, leveraged their media skills, and forged connections with grassroots organizers. They harnessed the power of documentary filmmaking as an advocacy tool and rapidly created a series of impactful short films.

Their efforts began with private screenings at their neighbors' homes and eventually gained momentum, thanks in part to the guidance of a community organizer affiliated with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. 

This collaboration culminated in the youth producing a documentary titled Reaching for Higher Ground which documented their victory.