close to home

Patrisse Cullors

Aug 26, 2025

10

It's so beautiful to be a part of this festival and share this work with everyone. I just shared this work with my partner and she cried her eyes out.

This documentary is powerful, moving, and deeply thought-provoking. It challenged me to ask: Who am I, and how can I contribute within my own capacity when so many refuse to give up? It also made me reflect on the access, resources, and knowledge I hold that could make a difference. The voices of the young adults are especially impactful. They are not defined by drugs, but by circumstances that leave them in impossible circumstance. Their stories reminded me of my own youth. I was one of the “housed kids,” yet the difference was that my friends’ families opened their homes to me. Their parents created safe spaces without hesitation, offering me a couch as long as I respected their rules. That simple act of generosity shaped me in ways I’m still grateful for. The cinematography further deepened the experience, making me feel immersed in the conversation itself, as though I were sitting alongside them, listening and learning.

Honest and vulnerable, heart wrenching yet so hopeful! Love this short film. It gave me a new perspective on homelessness. I will learn more about the LA Emissary which sounds like a fantastic place developing young leaders with compassion. It’s so important to have those experiencing problems to be able to help solve the problems. Thanks Whitney and Patrisse! 💜