Movies for Resilience: Sparking Community Dialogue

In July 2024, Sabathani Community Center and the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO) hosted the Movies for Resilience series to facilitate conversations around community resilience. These discussions are part of Sabathani Community Center’s Community Energy Project, which harnesses the power of community to address climate change, systemic inequalities, and poverty.  

Each Thursday in July, participants viewed a movie that featured a community coming together to respond to an environmental situation. Before and after the movie, attendees participated in discussions around building community resilience in South Minneapolis. Discussions were facilitated by Joshua Lewis, climate justice organizer for Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light.  

In these discussions, community members shared a wide range of perspectives around community resilience, identifying several systemic and community factors that impact emergency preparedness. Community members shared that they appreciated the opportunity to build community and start a discussion around becoming a more resilient community. Participants also emphasized the need to continue these conversations. 

Sabathani’s Community Energy Project pursues environmental justice, resilience, and racial equity through a variety of initiatives, including: 

• Establishing Sabathani as one of three Resilience Hubs in Minneapolis 
• Upgrading Sabathani’s building to a geothermal system to ensure energy efficiency and resilience 
• Providing training and workforce development for geothermal and solar careers 
• Implementing microgrid technology and battery backup storage to serve the community in times of crisis. 

The Movies for Resilience series is only the beginning; Sabathani and CANDO will continue to facilitate community dialogue to build resilience in South Minneapolis. More information about Sabathani Community Center’s Community Energy Project is available at sabathani.org/energy-project.  

The Movies for Resilience series was co-sponsored by Sabathani, the Minneapolis Health Department, Minneapolis Climate Action, and the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO). 

For updates on the Resilience Hub Minneapolis and Sabathani’s Community Energy Project and to learn about how you can get involved, click here to sign up for email updates.