Documentary Shows Impact Of School Closures

A still from the documentary, Beyond Closure, which details the impact of school closures that took place in 2013. IMAGE USED WITH PERMISSION FROM RUDD RESOURCES.
A still from the documentary, Beyond Closure, which details the impact of school closures that took place in 2013. IMAGE USED WITH PERMISSION FROM RUDD RESOURCES.

Documentary Shows Impact Of School Closures

By Tia Carol Jones

In 2013, fifty schools were closed by the Board of Education, including Overton, Woods and Emett. More than 10 years later, a documentary looks at the impact of the closures on the    communities they served, as well as efforts to redevelop the shuttered school buildings.

“Beyond Closure” is an hour-long documentary by Borderless Studio and On The Real Film. The aim of the film is to elevate the conversation and spark much needed public dialogue on creative, equitable and inclusive solutions to address the challenges the communities are facing with the closed schools.

Paola Aguirre Serrano, Partner at Borderless Studio, said Borderless and On the Real Film had been working together for about six to eight years documenting some of the work at Overton to activate the school.

“We felt it was important to bring the story to the forefront that the closures continue to have a profound impact on the heart of Black and brown communities in Chicago,” Aguirre Serrano said.

Aguirre Serrano said they chose the three schools to focus on, based on the years of intersection of community work and the efforts of the organizations that have set out to redevelop the schools. She said each project highlights a unique approach in showcasing different types of partnerships, pathways and timelines in the redevelopment process, led by community-based groups. Because all three buildings are somewhat similar in size, the filmmakers were able to compare and contrast what it takes to redevelop buildings of those sizes. 

Aguirre Serrano said the story of redeveloping the schools was compelling, in terms of the diverse and creative ways communities are reclaiming these spaces for future generations. The film is structured so that those who were not aware of the school closings were provided with insights and history into the situation. The film features journalists Sarah Karp and Alden Loury, as well as Niketa Brar, Former Executive Director of Chicago United for Equity. 

Aguirre Serrano said that the film unpacks the aftermath of the school closings, as well as the narrative that the schools would be redeveloped quickly, which didn’t happen. She said school buildings are really challenging to redevelop. The other goal of the film was to ensure community voices were at the forefront and that those people could talk about the challenges, barriers and needs those communities had after the schools closed. 

Aguirre Serrano said there was a lot of interest in what can be done, calls to action for next steps. Twenty-six of the 50 schools are still closed. She said the other conversation the film sparked is the one around resources and how to fundraise to redevelop the buildings, which she said is not an easy task. She said there needs to be extra strategies, extra resources and extra intention in redeveloping, which is something all Chicagoans can rally around. 

“One comment that I appreciated is that we were not just bringing a story of trauma, which it is in a way … We wanted to bring a story of hope,” she said. She added that the film shows that if communities come together a lot can be done, they just need adequate resources and support as they go through the redevelopment process.

There are plans to show the documentary throughout the year. The filmmakers want the documentary to spur community gatherings, conversations and action. For more information about Beyond Closure, visit beyondclosurefilm.com.


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