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ABOUT HUMAN CITY CREATIVE Human City Creative's mission is to use story-telling to listen, share and preserve stories of people and cities in process; to connect community by seeking understanding, grace, empathy, and celebrate the value of one another. Meet Christopher Christopher Padgett "The artist (shines brightest) when he or she is drawing attention to grace, by showing the pinprick of light overcoming the darkness in the painting or the story or the song." - Andrew Peterson After starting a photojournalism career at his hometown newspaper in Dixon, IL, Christopher attended Columbia College of Chicago, receiving a BFA in Film and Video. Throughout his career he has won multiple photojournalism awards, produced short films for communities and non-profits, and illustrated several children's books. ​ He currently makes his home with his daughter Annette, in Aliquippa, PA as he works on a larger community film project entitled, "Rivertown Anthology: Voices of Beaver County." CLIENTS & PARTNERS Organizations HCC has collaborated with or provided services for.

< Back to Catalogue Rivertown Anthology: Voices of Beaver County - Official Trailer (2019) 3min | English | Human City Creative | Director: Christopher Padgett The trailer for Rivertown Anthology: Voices of Beaver County. The residents of Beaver County, Pennsylvania share their stories and lives in an anthology of on-going community films. Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied

What is Community Filmmaking? Scroll Down "Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings. The beauty of listening is that those who are listened to start feeling accepted, start taking our words more seriously and discovering their true selves." - Henri Nouwen ​ ​ What is the starting point of authentic storytelling? At the core of the process is listening. Listening is an internal hospitality act says there is room and space for the person across from us to breathe, be joyful, lament or discover who they are. It is in this participation of giving and receiving, that we recognize the value of others and also of ourselves. It is in this process, we see the merging of story-telling with justice, empathy, and healing. How does this happen? In community filmmaking, we have the opportunity to see outside of ourselves. In sharing experiences of neighbors and struggles outside of our regular interactions, these stories can embrace an "alongside" approach, giving insight into a neighbor's daily life, inner conflict, and deep wisdom. Done well, these stories have the ability to reduce the stigma surrounding struggles that may otherwise become isolating, and give voice and platforms to voices that may commonly be overlooked. ​ I heard this sentiment described clearly to me in an interview of a young woman who was coordinating a learning support system for children during COVID-19. She spoke of rediscovering her area through listening and reflected, "I think I realized that voices have power. If one person shares something, and only one person listens, they carry that inside themselves to another person and another person and so on and so on." Is this process messy? Yes, of course. And here we find the power of story and truth; that amidst the chaos and brokenness there coexists grace and love that mark our individual lives and our lives in community. That in pain and suffering we have opportunity to see wisdom and empathy. We begin to see as Fred Rogers reflected, "Love is at the root of everything - all learning, all parenting, all relationships...love, or the lack of it." Generationally and immediately, these impact us in time and space. ​ As documentarian Ken Burns said, "I believe it is the artist's responsibility to lead people into hell. But I also believe it's important to lead the way out." ​ It is in this listening, this study of our common question of "What does it mean to be human?," that we being to reflect on our own mortality, the spaces and relationships we are connected to, and what motivates us to move forward. In that intersection, we can be a part of this process as artists. We can ask questions about who we are becoming, who we hope to be, and the roads we decide to take, that ultimately provide opportunity into understanding truth and valuing each other well. ​ ​ ​ ​ ABOUT HUMAN CITY CREATIVE Human City Creative's mission is to use story-telling to listen, share and preserve stories of people and cities in process; to connect community by seeking understanding, grace, empathy, and celebrate the value of one another. Meet Christopher Christopher Padgett "The artist (shines brightest) when he or she is drawing attention to grace, by showing the pinprick of light overcoming the darkness in the painting or the story or the song." - Andrew Peterson After starting a photojournalism career at his hometown newspaper in Dixon, IL, Christopher attended Columbia College of Chicago, receiving a BFA in Film and Video. Throughout his career he has won multiple photojournalism awards, produced short films for communities and non-profits, and illustrated several children's books. ​ He currently makes his home with his wife Carmita and daughter Annette, in Aliquippa, PA as he works on a larger community film project entitled, "Rivertown Anthology: Voices of Beaver County." Meet Christopher CLIENTS & PARTNERS Organizations HCC has collaborated with or provided services for.

< Back to Catalogue Johnny - Outdoor Immersion (2019) 3min | English | Produced by Human City Creative | Directed by Christopher Padgett Johnny, a post-9/11 veteran, talks about the impact the organization, Outdoor Immersion, had on his life. Outdoor Immersion Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied

Browse Our Work Catalog I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. Contact Us

< Back to Catalogue The Soma Gathering (2019) 2min | English | HCC Production Directed by Christopher Padgett Dani Brown speaks about her church, SOMA, in Beaver Falls and what drew her to choosing the church. Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied The Soma Gathering

< Back to Catalogue The Still Remembered Project (2018) 9min | English | HCC Production Directed by Christopher Padgett & Amanda Day Parker Women of The Still Remembered Project share their experiences in grief. ​ The Still Remembered Project provides bereaved parents and families Christian-based support and encouragement for a loss due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death. The Still Remembered Project Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied

COVID-19 STORYTELLING SERIES ​ VOICES of BEAVER COUNTY TRAILS MINISTRIES “We’re gonna jump into the trenches with all of our strength, all of our resources, all hands on deck. So we can be used as long as God allows us to be used.” - Abby Young, Youth Coordinator Scroll Down "Giving people an opportunity to figure out who they are, not only benefits them, it in turn benefits me, because they're part of the world I live in." - Kolbe Cole, Youth Coordinator WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT TRAILS? Unifying "the Body of Christ in Beaver County across ethnic, cultural and denominational lines through educational and practical training in the stories, causes and Biblical solutions to our historical divisions." Connect on Facebook > volunteer at trails ministries ​ ​ ​ call (724) 891.7541 for more information "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram Kendi "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption" by Bryan Stevenson "White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism" by Robin DiAngelo FOR KIDS: "Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History" by Vashti Harrison "Antiracist Baby" by Ibram Kendi Buy from a Black-Owned Book Store > DONATE TO TRAILS support trails ministries financially ​ Follow the link below

< Back to Catalogue Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation (2019) 7min 38sec | Language | Producer Director Wendy Whelply talks about the vision and goals of the Beaver Falls Community Development Corporation. Preserving the past and moving into the future sets the structure for the foundation of their mission. ​ Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Beaver Falls CDC

< Back to Catalogue English | Produced by RiverWise | Directed by Christopher Padgett Focusing on using the rivers and their surrounding communities as wisely as possible, residents & non-profit workers of Beaver County join in speaking about their dreams for their future and of the area they live. RiverWise RiverWise Play Video Play Video RiverWise - The First Year Play Video Play Video RiverWise Connected Play Video Play Video RiverWise PLAY Play Video Play Video Wild Play Video Play Video RiverWise Dream Play Video Play Video RiverWise Dave Blair Net-Zero Home Play Video Play Video RiverWise PATHS Video Play Video Play Video RiverWise SPACES

< Back to Catalogue Lost Man (2023) 2h 15min | Language | Producer Director I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. Feel free to drag and drop me anywhere you like on your page. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. Get Screening License Watch Preview $ Buy from $2.99 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied