- Julius Irving and Leigh Scott premiered documentaries in Los Angeles about penal and mental health systems through Represent Justice's Ambassador Program.
- The films will be shown at Heartwood Soundstage on Sept. 17, with Alachua leaders encouraging public discussion on justice system reforms.
Gainesville’s Julius Irving and Leigh Scott premiered documentaries last week in Los Angeles at the Directors Guild of America, exploring the penal system through a project with Represent Justice.
Irving and Scott were selected for Represent Justice’s Ambassador Program and received training for film production and impact campaigning, according to a release from Community Spring, where both served as fellows and Irving is working as community engagement coordinator.
Irving’s film is called “The Silent (R)evolution: Freedom from the Inside Out” and deals with a man entering a courtroom expecting release but confronting a surprise verdict.
Leigh’s film asks audiences to imagine an emergency response system that confronts mental health crises with care, not incarceration.
Represent Justice also had eight other films made by members of the cohort, and the event included panel discussions with the group.
Lindsay Kallman, executive director of Community Spring, and Alachua County Commissioner Mary Alford also attended the premieres.
“I was proud to see Alachua County represented so well in this national conversation about justice reform,” Alford said in a release. “So many families are affected and continue to be affected after a sentence has been fully served. Whether it’s housing, employment, parenting or care for chronic medical conditions, the effects on individuals and families are often overwhelming and translate to impacts to the larger community.”
The two films will be shown at Heartwood Soundstage on Sept. 17. Alford said she hopes people attend and join the discussion about what Alachua County can change in the justice system.
In his role for Community Spring, Irving is currently pushing to build civic engagement among disenfranchised residents to showcase the power of voting.