With the pandemic, economic gyrations and continued concerns about equity and climate change, how do we ensure a better future for our cities? Following decades of decline, most urban cores were celebrating almost 20 years of improvement, a transformation now at risk. How did we get here and what comes next?

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

We are seeking completion funding for our first four 60-minute episodes (Donate here). We just filmed three stories in Atlanta and Birmingham and are planning shoots in Chicago, Cleveland and Toronto to be followed by Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Seattle and Portland.

Check out our preview pieces that can be seen on the Videos page.

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

New Videos

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 and George Miller.

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.