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Film Screening—Building the American Dream

  • When
  • October 3, 2019 6:30–9:00 p.m.
  • Where
  • Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, 320 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017
  • Speakers
  • Claudia Golinelli, Chelsea Hernandez, Nadia Marin-Molina, Rinku Sen, and Susan Zakaib
  • In partnership with
  • Ford Foundation, Just Films

Across Texas, an unstoppable construction boom drives urban sprawl and luxury high-rises. Its dirty secret: abuse of immigrant labor. Texas construction workers face the deadliest conditions in the country, and Chelsea Hernandez’s new film, Building the American Dream, captures a turning point as a movement forms to fight widespread construction industry injustices.

Grieving their son, a Mexican family campaigns for a life-and-death safety ordinance. A Salvadoran electrician couple owed thousands in back pay fights for their children’s future. A bereaved son battles to protect others from his family’s preventable tragedy. A story of courage, resilience, and community, the film reveals shocking truths about the hardworking immigrants who build the American Dream, of which they are excluded.

A post-screening conversation with Hernandez will explore how organizations are working together on innovative solutions to address labor injustices and worker rights in the United States. 

A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Speakers

  • Claudia Golinelli

    Speaker

    Claudia Golinelli is an electrician featured in Building the American Dream.

  • Chelsea Hernandez

    Speaker

    Chelsea Hernandez is a Mexican–American filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. Her work focuses on the perspectives of ordinary people challenging injustices and the status quo.

    Read full bio

  • Nadia Marin-Molina

    Speaker

    Nadia Marin-Molina is co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

    Read full bio

  • Rinku Sen

    Moderator

    Rinku Sen is the president and executive director of Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation.

  • Susan Zakaib

    Speaker

    Susan Zakaib is grant manager for the Workers Defense Project.

Read more

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