Community Members Invited to Host Screenings of Austin Documentary ‘The Good News’

After premiering last month at the Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd. in Austin, a new documentary about Chicago’s Austin neighborhood is now available for community groups to screen on their own.

The Good News debuted Aug. 21 before a crowd of residents, organizers and leaders at the West Side arts venue. Produced by Emmy Award-winning production company PRIME 312, the 37-minute film highlights the progress of the Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan, a community-driven roadmap launched in 2018 to address challenges and build on neighborhood strengths.

The film showcases initiatives in food justice, affordable housing, public safety and storytelling while tracing Austin’s history of segregation and disinvestment. Its central theme is resilience: neighbors working collectively to reclaim their future.

Following the Aug. 21 screening, Kehrein Center Executive Director Reesheda Nicole Berry facilitated a panel discussion with community leaders. Berry, who chairs the quality-of-life plan’s Authentic Storytelling Campaign, said the film captured Austin’s struggles and triumphs. 

“The film represents decades of work, dedication, commitment, laughter, joy, pain, tears, relationships, communities, problems, challenges, solutions — all of it cannot be captured in the 37 minutes I watched,” Berry said. “I watched the faces of people I have laughed with, cried with, fought with — messy messiness! We are here to tell the story, and you hold those stories, and this is why authentic storytelling is so important.”

Austin Coming Together (ACT), which leads the quality-of-life plan, is encouraging residents and organizations to keep the conversation going by hosting screenings of The Good News in their own spaces. 

Groups interested in hosting are asked to provide a location with audio-visual equipment, refreshments if desired, and an audience of at least 15 people. ACT will supply a copy of the film, promotional support and a staff member to introduce the documentary, share ways to get involved with the plan, and answer questions afterward.

Organizers say the screenings are an opportunity for neighbors to learn more about Austin Forward. Together., which lays out goals in seven areas: community narrative, education, housing, youth empowerment, economic development, public safety and civic engagement.

The plan has helped support projects such as Austin Eats, a food justice initiative; the Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago program; and affordable housing and workforce development efforts, including the new Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation.

Berry said she hopes the film will inspire residents to reflect on their own role in telling Austin’s story.

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How to Host a Screening of The Good News

Community members and organizations are invited to host screenings of The Good News, a new documentary highlighting the Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan.

Hosts are asked to provide:

• A space with audio-visual equipment
• Refreshments if desired
• At least 15 guests

Austin Coming Together (ACT) will provide:

• A laptop with the film
• A custom promotional flier
• A staff member to introduce the film and answer questions
• A sign-in sheet to connect attendees with the quality-of-life plan 

For details or to schedule a screening, contact Grace Cooper at gcooper@austincomingtogether.org. Learn more about the Austin Forward. Together. plan here.