QUEST National Community
Engagement & Impact Campaign
LEVERAGING THE POWERFUL STORY OF THE RAINEY FAMILY TO SERVE THE NORTH PHILLY COMMUNITY, AND OTHERS LIKE IT, AROUND THE COUNTRY
EVENT: NORTH PHILLY COMMUNITY LAUNCH
After months of traveling with QUEST to festivals, it was time to share the film with the local North Philly community, where QUEST was filmed for almost a decade. We rallied a diverse group of local partners to create a hyperlocal community event that included a private screening, reception, and a day of free community workshops inspired by the themes in the film.
The two-day event was on a perfect end-of-summer weekend at Church of the Advocate, and the outdoor reception was a nod to North Philly block parties like the one featured in the film. We did a special outdoor edition of "Freestyle Fridays," the weekly open mic that takes place in the Rainey's basement home music studio, courtesy of Chris "Quest" Rainey and our partner, The Village of Arts and Humanities. The Sanctuary was transformed into a stunning gothic movie theatre by Rooftop Films. Other event partners include WURD Radio, BDC-Black Documentary Collective, BlackStar Film Festival, CONNECT, Department of Behavioral Health and disAbility Services, Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Natural Creativity, Sankofa Community Empowerment, and Scribe Video Center.
This event is especially important for the Church of the Advocate… We are community in need of a revival of spirit and re-solidification of our common purpose in creating space for our children to flourish, our adults to heal, and for all of us to participate in strength and knowledge building for the future.” - Rev. Dr. Renee McKenzie, Church of the Advocate
Following the screening, we held a series of conversations and workshops inspired by the film. Community care, safety, leadership, family, parenting, gender, intergenerational relations, the arts and healing are among the many topics QUEST's story of love and hope can be explored to amplify and transform.
INITIATIVE: #QUESThacks
The QUEST National Community Engagement & Impact Campaign worked in partnership with Resolve Philadelphia and Code for Philly to host #QUESThacks: Community Digital Solutions. This unique initiative brought local residents together with web developers, app designers and coders to create technological solutions to some of North Philly’s biggest challenges.
Press Coverage for #QUESThacks:
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE: PBS LESSON PLAN
Significant trauma, including witnessing or experiencing violence, is a fact of life for many students. Left unaddressed, that trauma can be an obstacle to learning. Teachers, who are typically asked to focus on cognitive rather than affective learning, sometimes feel ill-equipped to help students process their experiences. This lesson provides a curriculum-connected place to start.
In the lesson students gain an intuitive sense of the difference between affective and cognitive brain functions. They are asked to use both art and expository writing to respond to clips from the documentary film QUEST. The family shown in the film uses community connections, politics and art to cope when their youngest daughter, PJ, is shot–caught in crossfire on the streets of North Philadelphia. As students compare and contrast responses, they understand the role that affective pursuits, like artistic expression, can play in the healing process.