Infographic titled “The Response presents: How Puerto Ricans are Restoring Power to the People” and subtitled “An awarded-winning film exploring a network of mutual aid centers building collective resilience.” A doodle of a gust of wind labeled ”Maria” with more text reading “Disaster capitalism,” “Climate crisis,” and “Austerity measures,” and a doodle of militarized law enforcement officers, blows toward a doodle of Puerto Rico. Text written across Puerto Rico reads “Centros de Apoyo Mutuo” and various locations are marked. Four of the locations are labeled: “Las Marias,” with a sign reading “Cocina Cambu”; “Utuado” with a sign reading “CAMU Centro Apoyo Mutuo Utuado”; “Cagua” with a sign reading “espacio de salad”; and “Humacao” with a sign reading “Par my Patria.” Doodles of three people with speech bubbles reading “We want everything we do to build toward a new world...to empower people to build popular power.”; “We are trying to build political power and social fabric...to fight the state, because they have the resources we should have.”; and “I said, ‘Well, how can I help?’ Since the project looked so beautiful, people cooperating with each other.” Other speech bubbles read, “It’s very empowering to see people that maybe weren’t active, being active here at the center as community leaders.” and “...We are building power. And when people are free and awake and know what they’re worth...the whole community changes.” A green hill at the bottom of the infographic contains text reading “A Shareable Production www.theresponsefilm.org” with doodles of palm trees blowing and buildings roof blown by the wind, people eating and lining up for food, dancing, and getting ear acupuncture. Small text on the side reads “@lizar_tistry.”

Image by @lizar_tistry

Update (April 23rd): The tv premiere was a great success! If you missed it, the film will be re-broadcast several more times (through May 7th) on Free Speech TV (all times in Eastern Daylight Time):

  • Sun, 04/26/2020 – 8:30 am
  • Sun, 04/26/2020 – 8:00 pm
  • Tue, 04/28/2020 – 7:00 pm
  • Wed, 04/29/2020 – 7:30 pm
  • Thu, 04/30/2020 – 9:00 pm
  • Sat, 05/02/2020 – 8:00 pm
  • Sun, 05/03/2020 – 12:00 pm
  • Sun, 05/03/2020 – 8:30 pm
  • Thu, 05/07/2020 – 9:00 pm

Free Speech TV can be watched on DISH channel 9415, DIRECTV channel 348, and by streaming on Roku, Apple TV, Sling TV, and at freespeech.org)

For more information about the film, or to host a (virtual) screening for your community, organization, or company, please visit www.shareable.net/the-response-film.

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We’re proud to announce that our award-winning micro-budget film, “The Response: How Puerto Ricans are Restoring Power to the People,” will be premiering nationally in the United States this Wednesday, April 22 (4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET)!

On the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, Shareable and Free Speech TV (FSTV) will host a special online simulcast of the film which will immediately be followed by a panel discussion about community-led disaster response, collective resilience, and mutual aid.

Register for this free event to secure your spot at the screening and panel discussion.

The 30-minute film explores how, in the wake of Hurricane Maria, a quiet revolution percolated on the island of Puerto Rico. What began as an impromptu community kitchen meant to help feed survivors in the town of Caguas quickly grew into an island-wide network of mutual aid centers (Centros de Apoyo Mutuo) with the ultimate goal to restore power — both electric and civic — to the people.

The panel after the film will be hosted by producer Tom Llewellyn (Shareable) and feature Susan Silber (NorCal Resilience Network), Tré Vasquez (Movement Generation), Juan C. Dávila (“The Response” film director), and Christine Nieves (co-founder of Proyecto Apoyo Mutuo Mariana).

Where to watch the premiere on TV:

The special will air on Free Speech TV (DISH 9415, DIRECTV 348, and stream on Roku, Apple TV, Sling TV, and at freespeech.org).

The Response TV premieres this Wednesday, April 22

More information can be found on the FB event page and at shareable.net/the-response-film

Please feel free to contact theresponse@shareable.net with any questions.

Tom Llewellyn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Llewellyn | |

Tom Llewellyn is the interim executive director for Shareable, a nonprofit news + action hub promoting people-powered solutions for the common good. As part of his role at Shareable,


Things I share: Food, Stories, Time, Skills, Tools, Cars, Bikes, Smiles, Clothes, Music, Knowledge, Home, Land, Water, and Stone Soup!