Introduction to the Documentary
BRONZEVILLE — A documentary chronicling the aftermath of the closure of 50 Chicago Public Schools in 2013 will be screened this week in Bronzeville and Englewood.
About the Documentary
“Beyond Closure,” a film from Borderless Studios and On The Real Film, premiered before a sold-out crowd in December at the Chicago Cultural Center. Those who missed that event will have two chances to see the film Wednesday at Kennedy-King College, 740 W. 63rd St. in Englewood, and Friday at the Overton Center for Excellence, 4927 S. Indiana Ave. in Bronzeville.
Screenings and Panel Discussion
A panel discussion will follow Wednesday’s screening, which starts at 6 p.m. Friday’s outdoor screening starts at 6:30 p.m.
The Filmmaker’s Perspective
While the film has resonated with audiences so far, filmmaker and executive producer Paola Aguirre told Block Club she hopes to reach policymakers as well, noting the district’s recent reissuing of a call for proposals to redevelop shuttered school sites.
“It’s like there are no lessons learned, and no one’s listening. Why are we still struggling?” Aguirre said.
Background on the Filmmaker
Aguirre, a Harvard-educated urban designer, was part of the team that redeveloped Overton Elementary when it was shuttered along with 49 other schools on the South and West sides in 2013 under then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Community Support and Activism
Despite her disappointment with the city’s response, Aguirre is heartened by the support from people like Tonika Johnson, the artist and activist who will be joining her for the post-panel discussion at the Englewood screening.
A coalition of Englewood-based organizations who make up the Go Green On Racine team is heading an effort to convert the Woods Elementary building into a $26.6 million affordable housing development, health clinic and community center.
Both Overton and Woods Elementary are featured in “Beyond Closure.”
Policy Ideas and Best Practices
Aguirre said the film has generated conversations on policy ideas and best practices when it comes to redeveloping shuttered school campuses, something she hopes others will keep in mind when they watch the documentary.
“We need a process that looks funded and equitable and includes all the things that we’ve been saying for a long time now. I think the urgency is becoming more apparent,” said Aguirre. “What is the barrier for the city to take leadership in this issue? We shouldn’t be struggling or figuring [things] out on our own when these are city-owned, publicly owned, publicly funded facilities.”
Call to Action
Viewers should also see it as a call to action for city officials to step up and create solutions that will benefit the whole instead of the few, Aguirre said.
Englewood’s Granville T. Woods Elementary, one of 50 schools shuttered in 2013, will reopen as a job training center in 2022. Credit: Jamie Nesbitt Golden/Block Club Chicago
Current Status of Shuttered Schools
A 2023 Sun-Times report found that of the 46 buildings that housed the 50 shuttered schools, 26 buildings remained closed — 16 of which were vacant and publicly owned and 10 of which were sold but had yet to be redeveloped. Twenty school buildings returned to use, with some repurposed as CPS offices, private schools and luxury housing.
Success Story: Overton Elementary
Aguirre and her team celebrated a major milestone last July when they cut the ribbon on Overton’s new public plaza, one of 10 spaces created by the city in partnership with the Department of Planning and Development. It was a moment that almost didn’t happen as the former school campus was originally slated to be redeveloped into luxury apartments.
The former school is now a $17 million community hub with space for entrepreneurs and nonprofits. Plans to convert Overton’s Child-Parent Center into an audio/visual studio for artists and podcasters is still in the works.
Pressing for Change
Seeing what she and her team have accomplished has made Aguirre that much more determined to press for change. She said she’d like to see Mayor Brandon Johnson create a synergy between the district and the city’s planning department to build something productive.
“The community knows what they want, but it’s not what they’re getting,” said Aguirre.
Distribution and Future Plans
In the meantime, the filmmaker is hoping to find a distributor to help get her documentary in front of more viewers.
“It was my first film, so I was figuring out to build the plane as I’m flying it, so I’m working towards that,” Aguirre said. “For now I feel like we’ll continue to organize the screenings, and I’m hoping by the fall we have this in a platform so it’s accessible to everyone.”
Conclusion
The documentary "Beyond Closure" sheds light on the aftermath of the closure of 50 Chicago Public Schools in 2013 and the efforts of the community to repurpose these spaces. The film serves as a call to action for city officials to create solutions that benefit the whole community.
FAQs
Q: What is the documentary "Beyond Closure" about?
A: The documentary "Beyond Closure" chronicles the aftermath of the closure of 50 Chicago Public Schools in 2013 and the efforts of the community to repurpose these spaces.
Q: Where will the documentary be screened?
A: The documentary will be screened at Kennedy-King College in Englewood and the Overton Center for Excellence in Bronzeville.
Q: What is the goal of the filmmaker?
A: The filmmaker hopes to reach policymakers and create a call to action for city officials to create solutions that benefit the whole community.
Q: What is the current status of the shuttered schools?
A: According to a 2023 Sun-Times report, 26 buildings remain closed, while 20 have been repurposed as CPS offices, private schools, and luxury housing.
