Saving the City is a multi-part documentary series with related educational material asking and answering how do we make our cities better places?

The series is organized by subject, not city, so we can compare and contrast how different cities approach the same issues. Through insightful storytelling, we learn how to improve the urban experience by seeing what works and what doesn’t in cities across North America.

Help us complete our first four 60-minute episodes (Donate here):

• Series Overview
• Housing
• Parks
• Family Friendly

Check out our preview videos and biweekly newsletters.

After watching Saving the City, you will never look at cities the same way again!

New Videos

As we have interviewed over 200 people for about 60 minutes each and have uncovered a host of fascinating stories that deserve attention, we produced several short preview videos to show how we are approaching various subjects. These are our three newest.

Support Saving the City

Help us complete our opening episodes as we are well into production and now editing thanks to generous support from the William Penn, Packard, Hewlett, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Foundations, the Heinz Endowments, an Urban Land Institute leadership group and individuals led by Chris Larsen & Lyna Lam, George Miller & Janet McKinley, and Jordan & Sarah Hymowitz.

Contributions are tax-deductible and all funds go through the International Documentary Association, a 501c(3) non-profit.

Even small amounts make a big difference…

Saving the Bay PBS Series

Saving the City Executive Producer Ron Blatman also produced Saving the Bay: The Story of San Francisco Bay.  Narrated by Robert Redford, the four-part series was a PBS national prime time special and continues to air. The series received four regional Emmy awards including for Best Documentary. 

Learn more, including video clips and an extensive Education section, below.