Representation in Cinema Our Voices Project LLC

Jason Barber, Cuban American educator and artist, joins the podcast to discuss the legacy of actor, activist and LEGEND Edward James Olmos and Latinx representation in discussing the films: Mi Familia, El Norte, Selena, Zoot Suit, and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez.
Jason Barber is a Cuban American educator and artist with over a decade of experience in Rochester’s arts and non-for-profit sectors. As an active public artist in Rochester, he has served in many roles for a variety of Rochester’s art institutions– Rochester Brainery, Oxford Gallery, Memorial Art Gallery, Wall\Therapy, and the Yards Art Collective. He currently sits on the development and outreach boards for Roc Art United, Latinx Art Council, and Catholic Charities of Rochester, and teaches art at the Academy of Health and Science. Mr. Barber’s presentation will explore the impacts that Latino/Latinx artists are having in Rochester through their murals and public art works. He is also a massive film lover with an encyclopedia’s worth of knowledge in cinema.
Host: Jackie McGriff
Co-Host: Deborah Alvarez

The Representation in Cinema podcast is hosted by Our Voices Project. We are a production company committed to embracing identity, celebrating resiliency, and promoting visibility through uplifting the voices and sharing the lived experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples through our films, Representation in Cinema podcast episodes, and live panel discussions.

You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Follow Representation in Cinema and listen to all of our podcast episodes anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts! Subscribe to mailing list to be the first to hear about new projects, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes!

This episode of Representation in Cinema was recorded at the Food About Town studio.

Song: "You are so money"
Written by: Matthew Wigton
Performed by: Falls

Indian Horse is the story of Saul Indian Horse, a young Canadian First Nations boy who survives the Canadian Indian residential school system in the 1970s to become a star hockey player. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Wagamese. Indian Horse stars Sladen Peltier, Forrest Goodluck, and Ajuawak Kapashesit who all portray Saul at different stages in his life. Stephen Campanelli is the director.
In our discussion, we listen to our feature guests, Ronald and Ronnie Garrow of the Akwesasne Mohawk Bear Clan, share their heart in talking about the film, reliving the trauma told to them by relatives and ancestors who were forced from their homes and put into residential schools in Canada, discussing the significance of humor and educating the public about Indigenous history.
Ronald Garrow is the Founder and Executive Director of The Indigenous Peoples Center in Rochester, NY, a nonprofit organization supporting and promoting awareness of the Indigenous people’s culture, primarily the Haudenosaunee Culture (known as Iroquois).
While creating and running The Indigenous Peoples center Ron serves on the Board of Directors for Kanatsiohareke, a Mohawk Community in Fonda, NY and works full time for NY State Department of Motor Vehicles. Ron grew up on the Akwesasne Indian Reservation of Upstate New York and currently lives in Rochester, NY near his Children and Grandchildren.
Ron has worked with many individuals and local entities through speaking engagements, interviews, and public events to bring positive change and celebrate the indigenous cultures that are present in the region. Ron enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren and is a Mohawk language speaker.
Ronnie Garrow is a 2021 graduate of Irondequoit High School. Ronnie played football and earned all-county accolades and was the team’s co-most valuable player. He was recognized as an All Star for Lacrosse as well. Last year Ronnie was a featured panelist on “BIPOC Voices Be Heard!” – a virtual safe space for students of color to share their experiences with racism in their daily lives at school and in the community as hosted by the group, E.R.A.S.E- Eliminating Racism and Seeking Equity. Currently, Ronnie attends SUNY Morrisville and is majoring in applied psychology.
Host: Courtney Shouse
Co-Host: Jackie McGriff
The Representation in Cinema podcast is hosted by Our Voices Project. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Follow Representation in Cinema and listen to all of our podcast episodes anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts! Subscribe to mailing list to be the first to hear about new projects, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes!
This episode of Representation in Cinema was recorded at the Food About Town studio.
Song: "You are so money"
Written by: Matthew Wigton
Performed by: Falls

We're still recovering from all that is this incredible sequel to Black Panther. Consider Our Voices Project a part of your support group.
Wakanda Forever is the sequel to Black Panther that tells the story of the Wakanda royal family picking up the pieces felt after King T’challa’s death, a tribute in honor and memory of the late Chadwick Boseman.
Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom. The film stars Letitia Wright, Dominique Thorne, Angela Basset, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Tenoch Huerta. Wakanda Forever is directed by Ryan Coogler. .
In our discussion, we talk about what we loved about the film, the juxtaposition of grieving loved ones and celebrating life, a little bit about the history of colonization, and, as always, the importance of accurate representation in movies.
Special thanks to Chris Lindstrom of the Food About Town and In Good Spirits podcasts for letting use his studio to record this episode - thank you Chris!
The Representation in Cinema podcast is hosted by Our Voices Project. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Follow Representation in Cinema and listen to all of our podcast episodes anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts! Subscribe to mailing list to be the first to hear about new projects, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes!
Song: "You are so money"
Written by: Matthew Wigton
Performed by: Falls

A movie about Black women warriors starring Viola Davis? We're HERE FOR IT so let's talk about it! This is the first episode to feature the entire Our Voices Project team - Jackie McGriff, Deborah Alvarez, Courtney Shouse, and Annalisa Rogers!
The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, the all-woman warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in 1823, The Woman King follows a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies. The film stars Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and John Boyega and is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
In our discussion, we talk about what we loved about the film, the real history of the Agojie and the Kingdom of Dahomey and reflecting on the importance of accurate representation in movies.
Special thanks to Chris Lindstrom of the Food About Town and In Good Spirits podcasts for letting use his studio to record this episode - thank you Chris!
The Representation in Cinema podcast is hosted by Our Voices Project. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Follow Representation in Cinema and listen to all of our podcast episodes anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts! Subscribe to mailing list to be the first to hear about new projects, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes!
Song: "You are so money"
Written by: Matthew Wigton
Performed by: Falls

We hosted our first LIVE, in-person podcast episode after the screening of the film, Sugar, at The Little Theatre on Thursday, August 18, 2022. The recording was provided by The Little Theatre staff.
Sugar is a 2008 drama about 19-year-old Miguel “Sugar” Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) who dreams of winning a slot on an American baseball team. His talents as a pitcher eventually land him a slot on a single-A team in Iowa, but culture shock, racism and other curveballs threaten to turn Sugar’s dream sour. Sugar is written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
In our discussion, we brought up topics of culture shock, racism, the importance of community and family, and Miguel’s journey into discovering his own identity separate from baseball.
Featured Panelists: Rosa Vargas-Cronin, Giovanni Santana, Denise Ester
Moderator: Deborah Alvarez
Our Voices Project is a production company that shares the experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people through visual storytelling. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people and to help educators design and implement a student-centered learning environment that affirms racial and cultural identities, empowers students as agents of social change, and contributes to an individual’s engagement, learning, growth, and achievement through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Follow Representation in Cinema and listen to all of our podcast episodes anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts! Subscribe to mailing list to be the first to hear about new projects, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes!
Song: "You are so money"
Written by: Matthew Wigton
Performed by: Falls

We discuss the film "Moonlight."
Moonlight is a drama released back in 2016 starring Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders, and Naomi Harris. The story follows Chiron and looks at three defining chapters in his life as a young Black man growing up in Miami. His journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support, and love of the community that helps raise him. The film is directed by Barry Jenkins and received the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017. SO if you haven’t watched the film already, you can watch it on Showtime now and then come back to listen and/or watch our podcast.
Featured Panelists: Ricardo J. Millhouse, Taurus Savant
Moderator: Annalisa Rogers
Our Voices Project is dedicated to dismantling destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people by providing educational resources across marginalized groups brought on by the stories we share. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Song: "You Are So Money"
Written by: Matthew Wigton
Performed by: Falls