East LA Interchange

I saw "East LA Interchange" at the New Urbanism Film Festival where it won the Best Feature Film Award. "East LA Interchange" explores how the freeways - a symbol of Los Angeles ingrained in America's consciousness - impacted the melding of Boyle Heights' distinct tribes. The freeway systems changed the face of the U.S. and no community was impacted more than Boyle Heights with five major freeways dissecting the neighborhood, including the behemoth "East L.A. Interchange." Filmmaker Betsy Kalin interviews current and former Boyle Heights residents including,will.i.am, Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, and Josefina López of Casa 0101 while actor Danny Trejo narrates.

"East LA Interchange" tells the story of how this one neighborhood found its political voice in its fight against the freeways. It documents the evolution of Boyle Heights as city planners and highway officials made unilateral decisions - that affected the city greatly - with no input from its residents. Over time, this created an atmosphere of political activism where the residents came together to have a say in what was being done to their city in the name of "progress." The film provides a compelling look at what the future of America can be if the people in communities such as Boyle Heights can learn how to work together to secure our nation's pledge of providing justice for all.