WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer film
Donation protected
With the Santa Monica Police Activities League
Screening at the Congressional Black Caucus hosted by Congressman Elijah Cummings -- and retired NFL star and Co-Founder of the Players Coalition Anquan Boldin on the panel with other distinguished guests.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO REACH OUR PRODUCTION GOAL! We have closed out this successful campaign! A heartfel thank you to everyone who helped to make the film WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer! IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DOCUMENTARY FILMS OF ALL TIME!
Please visit https://trylovenow.com/ to learn about the movement birthed by the film and to get involved.
Here's a look at what we were able to accomplish together in 2017 and in the years leading up to the release of the film:
Hollywood FAME Award-winning Director and Producer A.J. Ali, and Director of Photography and Producer Errol Webber (Cinematographer on an Oscar-winning film and a Sundance-winning film) have teamed up to create a film that is making a distinct difference in the areas of social justice and racial reconciliation.
"WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” is a documentary film that premiered February 1, 2017 to help bridge the gap between peace officers and the communities they serve. The 90-minute film uses a proven set of action steps called L.O.V.E. (LEARN about people, OPEN your heart to their needs, VOLUNTEER to be part of the solution in their lives, and EMPOWER others to do the same) to repair broken relationships between peace officers and others in the community to ensure the 14th Amendment’s promise of equal protection under the law and to add to the safety and protection of peace officers who bravely protect and serve their community every day.
See this TV news clip from Congressman Elijah Cummings hosting a screening: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/video/3642006-screening-held-locally-for-film-on-police-community-relations/ .
Our film (and companion book, workshops, classes, and many other programs and products) are teaching members of the same community how to love each other. Making this film took me on a journey of self-discovery in ways that I didn't imagine it would. It also opened my eyes to the issues that police, returning citizens, and others face every day as a result of (designed to be) broken systems and an overall lack of mental health resources in this country.
Gandhi said “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Jesus said “Love your neighbor.” That’s exactly what we are doing with this film and movement.
In photo above, Errol Webber behind the camera, A.J. Ali (left) interviewing Andrew Collins (center) and Jameel McGee (right) in Benton Harbor, MI.
"WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” offers a viable and scalable solution that can work in every community in the nation. Through several real-life examples, including a community-policing maverick in Baltimore (see his Ted Talk at http://go.ted.com/CSo9 ), a police chief in Santa Monica who guided the transformation of a police department and the powerful story of the bond that developed between a white police officer and a Black man he framed in Michigan (see the CBS news report on their friendship https://youtu.be/7wffHBQKq74 ), we demonstrated the healing power of love and light over the destructive negativity of hate and darkness. Here’s a link to an article I wrote on the subject: http://wellness101life.com/its-time-to-choose-love/.
WHAT WE’VE DONE
We’ve raised more than $51,000 that we’ve used to complete production, editing and post-production. We've also changed the way many police departments and communities interact -- throughout the nation!
THE FILM IS COMPLETED. HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Join the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer movement, which was birthed by the film! Join at https://trylovenow.com/ by clicking the "Join Our Community" button at the top right. IT'S FREE! Take our classes, join our workshops, get involved in projects, learn how to love your neighbor using the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Principles. Maybe even become a Community Champion or teacher with us.
The L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement has just begun and we have a lot of work ahead of us to distribute our film and bring people into a space of understanding, reconciliation, peace and love. Please become a financial and promotional partner of our efforts and ask your friends and associates to join you. There are opportunities for licensing and sponsorship. We have additional information available for your review, including how licensees can use the film in their organization and how sponsors will benefit. Join us in saying no to division and yes to reconciliation in our lifetime.
Peace and Love,
A.J. Ali
Director & Producer, WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer
Our First Three Limited Edition T-Shirt Designs are SOLD OUT! Look for new designs, coming in 2018!
BECOME A LICENSEE -- WE'LL COME TO YOUR SCREENING TO PARTICIPATE IN A Q&A!
Organizations may obtain a license to be able to screen the film for their audience as often as they like throughout the year (perfect for schools, libraries, nonprofits, churches, law enforcement agencies and other groups). Organizations can license the film to screen to their audience at one location as many times as they want throughout the year. Even if you're not a decision-maker for an organization, you can still sponsor a license for your favorite organization.
The "Equal Protection Under the Law" clause of the 14th Amendment reads:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Chief Melvin Russell being prayed for by other members of the community in which he serves.
The film is intended to be used in a town-hall or classroom setting followed by solution-oriented discussion, relationship-building workshops and community activities. We intend to hold official screening/discussion/workshop events in cities throughout the country. We also intend on adding more video content in future years -- including a TV series and city-specific sequels celebrating progress made by implementing L.O.V.E. Our hope is to reduce incidents of racial profiling by helping to build bridges of relationship between police and community that will increase public safety and officer safety, foster community policing and create healthier environments for everyone to live, work and play.
I invite you to join us. Wherever you are, whoever you are, you can make a difference. Whether you have a story to tell, money to support, time to give, ideas to share, or an organization willing to host a screening, we need your help.
Thank you for your support!
OUR TEAM:
* A.J. Ali - Hollywood FAME Award winning Producer & Director
* Errol Webber - Director of Photography
* Lydia Hall - Editor
* Dan Brown, Jr. - Composer
Shirley Ali - Executive Producer
Dedicated to Abdul "Abbey" Rushlitt Ali
Mark Adams - Associate Producer
Derek Bowden - Associate Producer
Dan Brown Jr. - Associate Producer
Pia Civiletti - Associate Producer & Webmaster
Dr. Chance M. Glenn, Sr. - Associate Producer
Inga Lynch - Associate Producer
Randy Nixon - Associate Producer and Legal Advisor
ADVISORS
Krystol Diggs
Clif Wright
Dawna Baker
Char Bland
Frank Kelly III
Joseph Metoyer
Lyle Randles
MB Rogers
Arlette Thomas-Fletcher
PARTIAL LIST OF LICENSEES:
1. New Harvest Ministries, Baltimore, MD
2. Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA
3. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD
4. College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M University - Dr. Chance M. Glenn, Sr.
5. Elaine McGinnis in Maryland
6. Chuck Whitmore in Maryland
7. UCLA
8. ACTS Church, Venice, CA
9. Ascension Lutheran Church in Towson, MD
10. Johns Hopkins University
11. Baltimore City Police Department - Chief Melvin Russell
12. Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity - Art Cribbs
13. Dallas College System
14. Virginia Community College System
and dozens more!
VIP SUPPORTERS (in alphabetical order):
Millicent Bain
Selma Dillard
Zalee Harris
Jen Hayashi
Rowdy Herrington
William Maloney
Elaine McGinnis
Tucker Smallwood
Milton Vickers
OUR FIRST LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRTS (SOLD OUT!):
I said this long before the film was completed:
"Someone once said that movies aren't made, they are forced into existence. Well, we will not stop until this film is forced into existence. We will not rest until racial profiling is a thing of the past. Too many people made too many sacrifices for us to quit shy of that finish line. We must persevere. We will persevere. We will complete our mission." -- A.J. Ali
Organizer
A.j. Ali
Organizer
Santa Monica, CA