Repowered — unchainedstories

Watch the teasers

“I do not like to use the word *empowered*, because women are born with power, just sometimes along the way, we lose sight of that power. And so we need to be *repowered*.”

— Dolfinette Martin, Operation Restoration, New Orleans

About the Film

It can be hard to imagine change in communities that have long felt the impact of systemic oppression. But there’s a movement growing across the country, led by women who are reimagining community safety and justice. REPOWERED weaves together the personal stories of visionary women leaders in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Milwaukee as they try to transform their communities from the inside out, despite challenges and opposition from all sides, driven by the hope that their people can heal and thrive.

In recent years, the call to defund police and dismantle unjust systems has rung out nationwide. But what does this transformation look like in practice? The personal stories of these women who are repowering themselves and their communities help us all see what is possible. They have experienced profound consequences of systemic violence in their neighborhoods and their own lives. Their stories prove that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution–that we can all learn from these women who are taking back the power and helping build a more peaceful future.

REPOWERED is a series of three short films, which can be screened separately or in sequence. Runtime: 31:45

REPOWERED is produced by Unchained Stories, a social impact production company dedicated to building a more just world through the power of stories with generous support provided by the Public Welfare Foundation.

Meet the Storytellers.

Learn more about the women and organizations who are transforming justice in their communities.

**DC Office of the Attorney General, CURE The Streets**
Washington, DC

**CURE The Streets** Washington Highlands, DC

Operation Restoration
New Orleans, LA

Generous support for REPOWERED provided by Public Welfare Foundation

For 75 years, Public Welfare Foundation has supported efforts to advance justice and opportunity for people in need. Today, the Foundation’s efforts focus on catalyzing a transformative approach to justice that is community-led, restorative, and racially just through investments in adult criminal justice and youth justice reforms.

For more information about Public Welfare Foundation, and the jurisdictions where they work, please visit publicwelfarefoundation.org

BRITTANY GRAHAM

CURE THE STREETS
WASHINGTON, DC

CURE The Streets trains and deploys teams of violence interrupters and outreach workers, like Brittany, in communities with the highest rates of gun violence.
Lashonia Thompson-El

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
WASHINGTON, DC
CURE The Streets teams are staffed by local non-profits selected and funded by the Attorney General’s Violence Reduction Unit. In 2021, CURE The Streets DC teams responded to 30 shootings, conducted 263 dispute mediations and supported 178 high risk participants.
Dolfinette Martin

OPERATION RESTORATION
NEW ORLEANS, LA
Since 2020, Operation Restoration has posted bail for 232 women and provided 14 women returning from jail or prison with stable, secure housing.
Montrell Carmouche

OPERATION RESTORATION
NEW ORLEANS, LA
Operation Restoration was founded in 2016 by formerly incarcerated women. They support women and girls impacted by incarceration through educational and social services, housing, advocacy and bail reform.
Syrita Steib

OPERATION RESTORATION
NEW ORLEANS, LA
Danell Cross

METCALFE PARK COMMUNITY BRIDGES
MILWAUKEE, WI
After a murder in Metcalfe Park in 2011, Danell and other residents came together to host their first community event. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges was born.
Melody McCurtis

METCALFE PARK COMMUNITY BRIDGES
MILWAUKEE, WI
During the pandemic, the MPCB has begun construction on two foreclosed homes for community ownership. They plan to buy and renovate at least three more homes in 2022 and build a new community healing space.