When ambitious young Latinx face a housing, education and jobs crisis in their beloved hometown, they create bold visions for housing, green activism and risky politics.
A Boston Magazine dubbed Lawrence “The City of the Damned,” riddled with corruption, violence, and hopeless destitution, ignoring the art and activism of creative youth loyal to their home. Local response to the article was swift and defiant. Students shut down classes, city workers took to the streets, and focus groups formed. For decades the first “immigrant city” in New England has defied bad press.
Mi Casita documentary follows determined dreamers Franallen Acosta and Elissa Salas as they start sustainable housing, fight for education reform, create open air film events, music and green neighborhoods.
Fran told the City Council, “We cannot wait for a savior… we have to address our own problems with our own resources.” A once vibrant hub of manufacturing, Lawrence is now the poorest in the state. Lawrence families earn half the average income of Massachusetts families ($39,000 vs. $82,000), and 75% are Latinos.
Franallen Acosta plans to transform shipping containers into affordable homes. Mi Casita works for families to own a piece of the American Dream in Lawrence, at half the city's current rental rates. To build political clout and to effect progressive change, Fran campaigns for city councilor seat, and we follow their arduous campaign.
Elissa Salas, a cheeky artist and Fran’s soulmate for years, is an education reformer, elected to the Lawrence School Committee in 2017. She mentors young poets and artists in programs at Elevated Thought.
As communities across the nation grapple with income inequality, housing crises and broken public education systems, these youth open the curtain to the complex challenges of inspiring and empowering social change.
