The Bending the Arc Project explores the long struggle against racism in Alabama, featuring the stories of both African Americans and a small group of little-known white allies who fought for racial justice during the Civil Rights Movement.
The project was created and is managed by producer/director Pam Powell and producer/videographer David Brower, in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham.
The centerpiece of the project is a multi-part documentary miniseries.
Pam Powell
Director & Producer
After a 32-year career as a feature writer, university magazine editor, and director of publications and periodicals at UAB, Pam Powell began telling stories via video, audio, and photography in 2009; she has produced several multi-chapter biographical films (life stories captured through video interviews and archival media) and has produced numerous short video features. Since 2014, she has conducted more than 100 full life-story interviews and edited this footage into several short films, as well as into video features about the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham. Bending the Arc is her first documentary miniseries; she serves as director, co-producer, writer, photographer/videographer, and one of the two primary editors of the film.
portfolio website
Essay "Worlds Apart"
David Brower
Producer
David Brower has spent four decades filming, directing and producing commercials, documentaries, narrative shorts and feature films, accumulating many awards. Growing up in Chicago, then living and working in Phoenix, he moved to Birmingham 28 years ago, then moved to Placitas, New Mexico in 2021. He was involved with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham for many years (for his children and for social justice issues), without ever joining the congregation, giving him both a familiarity and an objective perspective on the church. He hopes these films will inspire people to continue to fight for equal justice for everyone. He serves as co-producer, videographer, photographer, and one of the two primary editors of the films.
portfolio website
Essay "No Sir, No Ma’am”
David Brower
Producer
David Brower has spent four decades filming, directing and producing commercials, documentaries, narrative shorts and feature films, accumulating many awards. Growing up in Chicago, then living and working in Phoenix, he moved to Birmingham 28 years ago, then moved to Placitas, New Mexico in 2021. He was involved with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham for many years (for his children and for social justice issues), without ever joining the congregation, giving him both a familiarity and an objective perspective on the church. He hopes these films will inspire people to continue to fight for equal justice for everyone. He serves as co-producer, videographer, photographer, and one of the two primary editors of the films.
Portfolio Website
Essay "No Sir, No Ma’am”
Shannon Leutzinger
Graphic & Web Designer
Shannon Leutzinger is a graphic designer and art director who has ten years of experience working in marketing agencies as well as with in-house marketing departments. When approached by the Bending the Arc team to design the project’s branding, motion graphics, and marketing deliverables, she was honored. This project not only utilized her love of all things design and development, but it also tapped into her passion for history, community impact, and positive change. She is a South Alabama native who has called the Magic City home for years now. She is a graduate of Auburn University and obtained her master’s from Savannah College of Art and Design.
portfolio website
Gail Short
Producer
Gail Allyn Short is an award-winning writer and freelance journalist based in Birmingham, Alabama. She specializes in writing about business, government, social issues, education and faith for local, regional and national publications. Her work has appeared in American Profile, American City & County Magazine, Outreach, Business Alabama Magazine and Birmingham Watch, to name a few. She has covered everything from the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee and the minimum wage to the intersection between race and public education. When she isn’t working, she is volunteering in her church’s outreach programs. The work has included ministering to women at a work-release center in Birmingham. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Essay "Silent Witnesses"
Gail Short
Producer
Gail Allyn Short is an award-winning writer and freelance journalist based in Birmingham, Alabama. She specializes in writing about business, government, social issues, education and faith for local, regional and national publications. Her work has appeared in American Profile, American City & County Magazine, Outreach, Business Alabama Magazine and Birmingham Watch, to name a few. She has covered everything from the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee and the minimum wage to the intersection between race and public education. When she isn’t working, she is volunteering in her church’s outreach programs. The work has included ministering to women at a work-release center in Birmingham. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Essay "Silent Witnesses"
Tonya Groomes
Producer
Tonya Groomes is an Atlanta chemical engineer whose relative was caught up in the brutal convict lease system in Birmingham back in the early 1900s. She and her family were featured in a Publitzer-Prize-winning book, Slavery by Another Name, and also in a documentary with the same title. She is a central narrator who helps weave the Bending the Arc films together.
Dr Marilyn Kurata
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Dr Lynda Wilson
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Dr Diane Tucker
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Tanya Turner Bell
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Antoine Bell
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Virginia Volker
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Dr Jeanne Weaver
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Holly Hilton
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Rev Julie Conrady
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Financial Team
Robert Bradley
Jennie Moffitt
Consultants
Dr. Robert Corley
Michele Forman
Pamela Sterne King
Production Assistants
Nathan Fallin
Lance Ledbetter
Publicity Team
John Powell
Pam Powell
Rev. Julie Conrady
Dr. Marilyn Kurata
Antoine Bell
Tanya Turner Bell
Shannon Leutzinger
Samantha Lalak
David Brower
Holly Hilton
Legal Services
The Law Firm of Stacey A. Davis
major
donors
Washington University in St. Louis Libraries
The Alabama Humanities Foundation
The Alabama State Council on the Arts
Dr. Cameron Vowell
Ms. Tracy Martin
Ms. Gerda Carmichael
Dr. Charles Turnbough
Ms. Alice Thigpen
Dr. Diane Tucker
Dr. Juanzetta Flowers
Dr. Robert Koehler and Ms. Barbara Koehler
Dr. David Corliss and Ms. Linda Corliss
Rev. Gail Stratton
Dr. Susan Bellis
The Unitarian Universalist Association
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Blacksburg, Virginia
major
donors
Washington University in St. Louis Libraries
The Alabama Humanities Foundation
The Alabama State Council on the Arts
Dr. Cameron Vowell
Ms. Tracy Martin
Ms. Gerda Carmichael
Dr. Charles Turnbough
Ms. Alice Thigpen
Dr. Diane Tucker
Dr. Juanzetta Flowers
Dr. Robert Koehler and Ms. Barbara Koehler
Dr. David Corliss and Ms. Linda Corliss
Rev. Gail Stratton
Dr. Susan Bellis
The Unitarian Universalist Association
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Blacksburg, Virginia
Additional
Donors
Colin Albea
Lisa and Jim Albea
Laura Anderson
Amy Badham
Tara and John Bawden
Rev. Ed Brock
Henna Budhwani
Rev. John Buehrens
Debra and Mike Burrell
Lin Carleen
Michael and Glynda Cosky
Franciska Dyck
Dr. Andrew Duxbury
Dr. Marion Fintel
Dr. Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith
Judy Gibson
Nancy Grove
Melissa and Anthony Hamley
Fred Hammond
Ryan Harrison
Holly Hilton
Seanan Holland
Linda James
Dr. George Klersey and Ms. Mary Ann Plant
Joe Knott
Dr. Marilyn Kurata and Bob Bradley
Ms. Becky Laurent and Dr. John Laurent
Ms. Marcella Little and Dr. Dale Little
Alice Lizee
Karen LoBracco
Paul and Marcia Mancill
Margie McDermott
Jackie Mazzara
Ellen Meadows
Julia Mortenson
Edna Nagy
Agnes Pollock
Kim Spidell
Lyn Stafford
Patti and Jim Steelman
Pam Tilly
Rev. Ruth Vann Lillian
Virginia Volker
Dr. Jeanne Weaver
Dr. John Whitman
Janice Williams
Dr. Mary Williams
Dr. Lynda Wilson and Dr. Craig Wilson
Additional
Donors
Colin Albea
Lisa and Jim Albea
Laura Anderson
Amy Badham
Tara and John Bawden
Rev. Ed Brock
Henna Budhwani
Rev. John Buehrens
Debra and Mike Burrell
Lin Carleen
Michael and Glynda Cosky
Franciska Dyck
Dr. Andrew Duxbury
Dr. Marion Fintel
Dr. Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith
Judy Gibson
Nancy Grove
Melissa and Anthony Hamley
Fred Hammond
Ryan Harrison
Holly Hilton
Seanan Holland
Linda James
Dr. George Klersey and Ms. Mary Ann Plant
Joe Knott
Dr. Marilyn Kurata and Bob Bradley
Ms. Becky Laurent and Dr. John Laurent
Ms. Marcella Little and Dr. Dale Little
Alice Lizee
Karen LoBracco
Paul and Marcia Mancill
Margie McDermott
Jackie Mazzara
Ellen Meadows
Julia Mortenson
Edna Nagy
Agnes Pollock
Kim Spidell
Lyn Stafford
Patti and Jim Steelman
Pam Tilly
Rev. Ruth Vann Lillian
Virginia Volker
Dr. Jeanne Weaver
Dr. John Whitman
Janice Williams
Dr. Mary Williams
Dr. Lynda Wilson and Dr. Craig Wilson
Behind the scenes
200
hours of film
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80
voices interviewed
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4
mini-series films