Stories of Community
Stories of Community is a series of short films commissioned by Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City in partnership with FilmScene to amplify stories of community members building a sustainable and resilient future.
The first Stories of Community screening was held on Feb. 25th. We are grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate the stories of the Wonderful Westside, South District, and Longfellow neighborhoods and for being in a joyful community with you all. We hope Fatima, Abdias, the Harveys, and the Plattes inspired you to start (or continue!) organizing in your own neighborhoods. Stay tuned for the next neighbors to be featured at FilmScene this April!
Mujeres En Bicis
The Bike Library and women in the Coles mobile home neighborhood started a weekly bike club in the neighborhood!
Cookie swap
Neighbors baked cookies and hot chocolate, closed down a street to share desserts and get to know each other.
Reggae Fest
Neighbors in the Fairmeadows neighborhood in southeast Iowa City organized a reggae festival to celebrate their Jamaican and Caribbean culture.
Valentine’s Night Out
Neighbors from the Miller-Orchard neighborhood organized a fun Valentine’s Day event for kids, letting parents have a night out to themselves!
Citizenship Classes
Sara Haroun organizes citizenship classes in the Wonderful Westside neighborhood.
Sudanese Soccer Club
Wonderful Westside residents started a soccer club for kids in the neighborhood!
Lights of Lucas Farms
Judy Nyren has been involved with the Lucas Farms neighborhood for quite a long time and has organized many events to bring the neighborhood together, including a winter lighting contest that’s been held for many years!
House of Horrors
Alex Rain hosts a horror house every Halloween for kids and adults in the neighborhood! They source reusable materials from around town to set up props and scary scenes.
Wetherby Soccer
Abdias organizes and coaches pick-up soccer games for kids in his South District neighborhood at Wetherby Park. Soccer changed his life, and he really wants to help others through soccer as well. He saw a big opportunity in his neighborhood park to make a big impact in kids’ lives.
Front Porch Music Festival
Some neighbors were inspired to create a free music festival right in the Longfellow neighborhood of Iowa City. It’s been running for eight years and has engendered its own community!
Wonderful Westside Mural
Fatima and some of her neighbors wanted to celebrate their neighborhood. They got together and made public art and a new neighborhood association!
