Chosen Fathers: Healing through Brotherhood

Dear Supporters,

I hope you are well, in good health and in good spirits. As I reflect on the impact of our previous award-winning PBS film Ferguson Rises, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your unwavering support and belief in the power of storytelling to create positive change. Today, I come to you with a groundbreaking new project that builds upon the themes of healing, resilience, and humanity that we explored in our previous film, Ferguson Rises.

Allow me to introduce Chosen Fathers: Healing through Brotherhood.

With our nation's epidemic of gun violence where 98% of all homicides are perpetrated by men and 80% of all suicides being committed by men, there is clear evidence that we are in desperate need of interventions that invite men to deal with their deep seeded pain, for their sake, and the sake of our world.

This difficulty in expressing and processing emotions is even more profound for Black men, whose pain and anger are often perceived as threatening, perpetuating a cycle of violence and trauma that seems to have no end. 

Chosen Fathers aims to shed light on this broader issue of manhood through the lens of a group of Black fathers who are confronted with the overwhelming loss of their children. Their experiences set an example for youth from similar backgrounds, challenge stereotypes and explore paths toward emotional liberation that encourage us all to take a healthy look at our suppressed emotions.

This groundbreaking documentary follows Michael Brown Sr. and his group of newly grieving fathers during a transformative week-long retreat as they learn that shedding tears is not a sign of weakness but a testament to their strength and resilience. Their journey touches the very core of what it means to be a man in today's world.

We extend an invitation to you to join us in making Chosen Fathers a reality. We are committed to creating stories that inspire, heal, and foster empathy and we need a community to be able to continue doing so.

By taking action now and supporting Chosen Fathers, you become a part of a movement that challenges harmful notions of masculinity, creating safe spaces for men to heal and connect worldwide. Together our success will have a profound impact on the rates of violence that plague all societies.

Our goal is to raise $45,000 to cover our pre-production, production and post for our preliminary shoot.

Your support will enable us to present our material to large funding partners who will bring the $1 - $1.5 million needed to complete the film.

Thank you once again for your incredible support. Let's make Chosen Fathers a testament to the power of compassion, healing, and brotherhood.

With deep gratitude,

Mobolaji Olambiwonnu

Producer/Director

Ferguson Rises and Chosen Fathers

TEAM:

Mobolaji Olambiwonnu - Producer/Director

TJ Martin (Academy and Emmy Award-winner) - Producer

Demetrius Bady - co-producer

Bron Moyi - Cinematographer