A Home Worth Fighting For
The Push to Stop the Demolition of Public Housing in Chelsea
Still from Natasha Florentino’s new documentary, A HOME WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
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National Public Housing Museum, 919 S. Ada Street, Chicago, IL 60607
- Free
- Register
Film Screening and Conversation with Natasha Florentino
As the National Public Housing Museum’s sixth Artist as Instigator, Natasha Florentino leveraged her residency to complete a documentary, A HOME WORTH FIGHTING FOR, which follows New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents as they fight against the proposed demolition of the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.
Join us for a debut screening of this new film, along with a conversation with Natasha and local housing activists. Resident organizers will also join virtually from New York to share their personal stories and ways to support their ongoing fight against gentrification and displacement.
FREE. Light bites and refreshments included. Space is limited. Please register in advance.
Schedule
- 5:30 Reception, with museum open for exploration
- 6 pm Program begins
- 6:20 pm Film Screening
- 7 pm Conversation
- 8 pm Event ends
About the film
A HOME WORTH FIGHTING FOR
The Push to Stop the Demolition of Public Housing in Chelsea
Through the eyes of longtime residents fighting to save their homes, A HOME WORTH FIGHTING FOR, exposes a flawed political process that prioritizes private developers over the preservation of public housing while dismissing calls for transparency. Determined to defend their community from demolitions, residents organize to resist a profit-driven plan aimed at privatizing public housing.
About the panelists
Natasha Florentino is a documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, and video producer whose practice involves deep research, community engagement, and a sustained commitment to revealing the power dynamics behind displacement. Natasha’s newest film, A HOME WORTH FIGHTING FOR: The Push to Stop the Demolition of Public Housing in Chelsea, follows residents who oppose the proposed demolition of two public housing developments in New York City.
Don Washington has over 30 years of doing research, investigations, training, organizing, political strategy and public policy/campaign development on issues of human, civil and labor rights both here and abroad. He does this to feed himself and his addiction to books and stable housing. He has been an AP-Award winning writer, an amateur physicist, was once a well-regarded stand-up/improvisational comedian, playwright and remains a noted Tragic Action Hero. He is a life-long learner, a professional agent of change and firm believer in the common public good. He is currently the Executive Director of the Chicago Housing Initiative and is running a project that tracks the interrelations between both violent/dangerous right-wing organizations and movements, conservative think tanks/funders and politicians.
Etta Davis is a public housing resident and activist from Chicago’s Dearborn Homes, where she is the Leadership Advisory Council Vice President. She is also a vocal advocate for improved housing conditions and policies through the Lugenia Burns Hope Center and other groups. Davis has been featured in articles and interviews discussing issues like the Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) “Plan for Transformation” and the need for more public housing.
Renee Keitt is the resident association president of the Elliot-Chelsea Houses in NYC and a community organizer with the FEC Tenants Against Demolition. She is a fierce advocate for public housing in addition to being an urban farmer, seed saver, and master composter. A graduate of Farm School NYC, Renee studied housing, community organizations and organizing, nonprofit leadership, and public policy at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. Her interests lie at the intersection of food, housing, nature, and the built environment.
Artist as Instigator
This event is the culminating event for Natasha Florentino’s 2024–2025 Artist as Instigator residency, which leverages arts and culture to make creative public policy interventions around housing and related issues.
Support
Generous support for the 2024–2025 Artist as Instigator residency at the National Public Housing Museum is provided by the Mellon Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
