January 30, 2019 -- Hundreds of Westchester County High School students will gather together for three showings of Full Court Film’s documentary Chi-Town at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, and the Theodore Young Community Center in White Plains. The documentary tells the story of Keifer Sykes, a young man growing up on the south side of Chicago, who overcomes personal loss, debilitating injury and tragic violence to pursue an improbable basketball career in the NBA. Westchester County DCMH was approached by Chi-Town’s Social Impact Producer Christine Wexler and Director/Producer Nick Budabin to participate in the screenings and panel discussions, because of the County’s collaboration with local schools, advocacy groups and community partners like My Brother’s Keeper and the Theodore D. Young Community Center. Under Latimer’s leadership, DCMH has formed a Trauma Informed Committee, exploring best practices and programs to address trauma and the resilience of our children, adults, schools and communities.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Hosting the New York premier screening of feature documentary Chi-Town provides a unique opportunity for Westchester County, and the Department of Community Mental Health to further its mission of helping struggling youth overcome obstacles and adversity. These screenings, combined with panel discussions spearheaded by experts in the field, will allow students to participate in an open dialog that challenges perception, and celebrates the importance of our community partners and support groups.”
Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Michael Orth said: “Westchester County is thrilled to host the New York premier screening of award winning Chi-Town. Director Nick Budabin captures the true meaning of overcoming life’s adversities through both personal and community resilience. Under the leadership of County Executive George Latimer, the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, in collaboration with other County departments and community partners, are committed to creating conditions and opportunities to allow all individuals to reach their potential.”
Chi-Town was a major success at the Austin Texas Film Festival. The three Westchester County showings are as follows:
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January 30 at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, 10:30 a.m.
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February 21 at the Theodore D. Young Community Center in White Plains, 12 p.m.
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February 21 at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, 7 p.m.
The final screening at the Jacob Burns Film Center is open to the public, and is the New York premier of Chi-Town. For more information, please contact the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health at (914) 995-5220.