Women Housing Women

Posted July 19th, 2007 by Gretjen
in
Producer of the Work / Filmmaker: 

Produced by the Women's Community Revitalization Project & Scribe Video Center

Filmmaker Facilitator: 

Women's Community Revitalization Project and video facilitator Gretjen Clausing

Year released: 
1992
Length: 
15 minutes
Price: 

$20 for individuals / $35 for Community Institutions ie: libraries, schools, non-profits / $50 for Universities & Businesses

Buy this Video: 

To purchase a DVD please call 215 222 4201 or email inquiry@scribe.org.

In this intimate portrait of the women of the Women's Community Revitalization Project (WCRP), a culturally and economically diverse group of tenants, staff and board members speak of their success in developing affordable housing for low-income and formerly homeless women.

Though WCRP is not the only group of female developers on the scene these days, the documentary short was originally conceived, in part, as a way to demystify the housing development and construction process and demonstrate that women can succeed in a male-dominated field. The jaunty video is also notable for something that remains unusual years after it was produced -- the matter-of-fact solicitation of input from low income and once-homeless women about the design and construction of the houses they'll soon be living in.

Filmmaker's Name: 
Women's Community Revitalization Project
Filmmaker's Bio: 

The Women's Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) is committed to social and economic justice for low-income women and their families. They develop housing and neighborhood facilities; provide supportive services; advocate for policy change; and honor leadership, dignity, and equity in our communities.

WCRP believes that when you start with women, you are at the core of communities and families. There is power in women working together to make change. WCRP has created a model that works for community development, putting that power to work for low-income women and their families.

Gretjen Clausing is an independent media programmer and activist, who has made her home in Philadelphia since 1989. Prior to joining Scribe's staff in September 2004, she was the Program Director of Film at the Prince. She is a founding member of the Philadelphia Coalition for Public Access, a grassroots group that has been working since 1999 to get public access television activated in Philadelphia. She has worked at Scribe as a part-time facilitator since 1990. She joined Scribe as Program Director in 2004 and was the Producer of the NAMAC conference in 2005.

Press: 

February 8, 1993 - "Expressing Themselves," by Ann Kolson, The Philadelphia Inquirer