The American Creed Community Conversations Initiative

FAIN: GW-259383-18

Citizen Film, Inc. (San Francisco, CA 94115-5236)
Sam Ball (Project Director: August 2017 to present)

Implementation of a public screening and discussion program on shared American ideals as addressed in the PBS documentary film American Creed.

In the documentary American Creed, historian David Kennedy teams up with his Stanford colleague Condoleezza Rice to ask, “What ideals do Americans share in common?” Their transpartisan dialogue frames stories about different kinds of civic activists striving to realize their own visions of an American Creed across deep divides. Co-produced by Citizen Film and WTTW, which is developing the American Creed documentary as a PBS Special, American Creed Community Conversations will explore how ideals like “liberty” and “equal opportunity for all” are interpreted. 150 scholar-led discussions in public libraries, community centers and cultural institutions will invite audiences to consider how American ideals evolved and inspire different approaches to community-building today. Wherever possible, dialogue with the film’s cast will complement curricular resources provided by the American Library Association, the National Writing Project and other partners nationwide.

Associated Products

American Creed: Writing Our Future Project (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: American Creed: Writing Our Future Project
Author: National Writing Project
Abstract: The American Creed broadcast on PBS (February 27, 2018) launched a robust public engagement campaign beginning with this youth publishing opportunity, and including community conversations, classroom activities, an essay contest, and a suite of digital shorts—all designed to foster reflection and dialogue about freedom, fairness, opportunity, and the meaning of citizenship.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/projects/125
Primary URL Description: This URL is the landing page to navigate the National Writing Project's "American Creed: Writing Our Future Project".
Secondary URL: https://writingourfuture.nwp.org/americancreed/pages/start-writing
Secondary URL Description: This URL links to five prompts available as an open invitation for youth to write in response to American Creed.
Audience: K - 12

Educator Resources for American Creed (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: Educator Resources for American Creed
Author: Facing History and Ourselves
Abstract: In the film American Creed, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from remarkably different life experiences, backgrounds and points of view to explore American ideals and identity. Their spirited inquiry frames the stories of a wide range of citizen-activists striving to realize their own visions of America’s promise across deep divides. Just as the film frames the stories of different kinds of activists who wrestle with America’s promise, Facing History hopes to inspire young people to engage deeply in a conversation about who we are, and who we want to be.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://www.facinghistory.org/american-creed
Primary URL Description: This URL is a landing page for Facing History and Ourselves' American Creed curriculum and resources.
Secondary URL: http://https://www.facinghistory.org/american-creed/for-educators
Secondary URL Description: This URL includes the four lesson plans designed by Facing History and Ourselves to support educators to embrace the larger questions featured in American Creed in their classrooms.
Audience: K - 12

American Creed Community Conversation Wrap Up Report (Report)
Title: American Creed Community Conversation Wrap Up Report
Author: WTTW Chicago
Abstract: This report delivered to Citizen Film from WTTW Chicago contains American Creed's PBS broadcast information including an executive summary, station relations, audience research, presenting station services, notable press coverage, ratings, and carriage data.
Date: 01/24/19
Primary URL: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yj8bzd7vjykaht9/American%20Creed%20Wrap%20Up%20Report.pdf?dl=0
Primary URL Description: This URL is a dropbox download link to a .pdf file of the report.
Access Model: Available between project partners

American Creed Screening Tool Kit (Web Resource)
Title: American Creed Screening Tool Kit
Author: Citizen Film
Abstract: The American Creed Screening Tool Kit contains resources for American Creed Community Conversation event organizers. This kit is made available license free to qualified Community Conversation venues. It includes: - American Creed and American Creed Community Conversation graphics - Community Conversation Facilitation Guides - Partner Logos - Photos - A sample Press Release - Print ready Design Assets - Projection ready screening files of three versions of American Creed and a suite of short films - Sample Social Media posts
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qg2leyaopup3zom/AABKv4dpVCRGeNu5DHvwUULTa?dl=0
Primary URL Description: This URL links to the American Creed Screening Tool Kit and is shared with Community Conversation event organizers.

Students Respond to American Creed (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: Students Respond to American Creed
Writer: Mike Shen
Writer: Sam Ball
Director: Sam Ball
Producer: Sam Ball
Producer: Kate Stilley Steiner
Producer: Citizen Film
Producer: WTTW – Chicago Public Media
Producer: Mike Shen
Abstract: McCamey is from rural Montana. She wants to be a writer. Isaiah lives in inner-city Oakland. He hopes to be a mental health advocate. Annays is from an immigrant family on Chicago’s southwest side. She aims to be a civil rights lawyer. In classrooms supported by Facing History and Ourselves and the National Writing Project, they respond to the PBS film American Creed and become part of our story.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://www.pbs.org/video/what-ideals-do-we-share-students-respond-american-creed-dlhi/
Primary URL Description: This URL provides access to "Students Respond to American Creed" through PBS.org.
Secondary URL: http://citizenfilm.org/portfolio_page/students-respond-to-american-creed/
Secondary URL Description: This URL provides access to "Students Respond to American Creed" through citizenfilm.org.
Access Model: Open access
Format: Film
Format: Digital File
Format: Web

American Creed Event Calendar (Web Resource)
Title: American Creed Event Calendar
Author: Aurora Jiminez
Abstract: View the American Creed events calendar on the film's website for a list of all partners who reported directly to Citizen Film on the Community Conversation events they hosted.
Year: 2018
Primary URL: https://www.americancreed.org/events-calendar
Primary URL Description: American Creed's event calendar, located on its website.

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