Greater Ohio would like to invite those who share in our interest of revitalizing core urban areas and first ring suburbs to join us for the screening of The New Metropolis and subsequent panel discussion. The screening will take place on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:30 pm at the Drexel Theater, located at 2254 E. Main Street, Bexley. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Lavea Brachman, Co-Director, Greater Ohio & Non-resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution.
Ohio’s First Suburbs are highlighted in “The New Metropolis," a groundbreaking two-part documentary on the rise, fall and revitalization of America’s first suburbs. Produced by award-winning filmmaker Andrea Torrice, this is the first public examination devoted to the issues facing many suburban towns. Considered embodiments of the American dream, the first suburbs blossomed after World War II, bolstered by economic prosperity and government support. Now, many struggle with the same challenges as urban centers -- growing poverty, white flight, crumbling infrastructure, abandonment and the continual lure of newer communities further from the cities. The two 25 minute films are broken down as follows:
Episode 1, "A Crack in the Pavement," narrated by actor Peter Coyote, follows the story of two Cincinnati area public officials and their efforts to keep their towns stable and healthy despite difficult times to repair and improve infrastructure and lure businesses.
Episode 2, "The New Neighbors," narrated by actress Ruby Dee, focuses on two ordinary people, one black and one white, who made racial integration the centerpiece of revitalizing Pennsauken, New Jersey.
The panel discussion will focus on the effects that sprawl has on first ring suburbs and what communities are doing to address these issues in Ohio.
The panel will consist of the follow people: Lavea Brachman, Greater Ohio, Moderator Andrea Torrice, Torrice Productions & Director of The New Metropolis Kim Gibson, former Director of the First Ring Suburbs Consortium of Ohio and interviewed in Crack in the Pavement Ginny Barney, Upper Arlington City Manager
For information about The New Metropolis, visit www.thenewmetropolis.com or contact Torrice Productions at 513-751-7050. If you have any questions about this special presentation, please contact us directly at 614-258-6200.
We hope that you will spread the word and join us for this exciting evening!