Riverview Currently
The power of the short documentary
james parker
One of the greatest benefits of the work that I do is that most of the time it doesn't feel like work. Telling compelling stories that get people to react, to shift their viewpoint or to gain a better understanding of something is a powerful thing. It's about engaging people, educating them, connecting them to their clients and eliciting a positive response, whether it's making a donation, joining a cause, or purchasing a service.
But mostly it's about telling success stories, stories of organizations making a difference in people’s lives, of life-saving products, of successful programs. Perhaps the perfect example is our own Parker Mother and Child Foundation. I founded Parker Mother and Child in 2004 after making a documentary film trip to Uganda two years earlier. While I was there I met two young girls who, at 12 and 13, were looking for sponsorship for high school. I was told that if they could not find a sponsor their parents might marry them off at that young age. I took a leap of faith and enrolled them in secondary school. Several years went by and they consistently performed well. After graduation, I asked what they would like to do. Jane chose Dental School and Betty Surgical Nursing. The results of that initial investment are nothing short of amazing.
Building a clinic: In May 2024 I brought a team of volunteers from KinderSmile to Uganda. I was joined by three former students, Betty, Frances, and Flavia. Together we helped Jane build and establish her own dental clinic in Bweyale, an underserved community in northern Uganda.
Today, Betty is a surgical nurse, running the surgical department at Bishop Asili Hospital in Kasana. Flavia graduated from Law School and Frances is currently attending Nursing school. They are supporting their families, they are role models in their communities and I am so proud of the successful women they have become.
I used documentary videos to tell their stories and to help raise funds for other students. I can tell you firsthand that a good, well-constructed video truly has the power to change lives.
Closer to home we've worked with HomeFront, Catholic Charities, the Rescue Mission of Trenton, TASK, Mercer Street Friends Food Bank and many other organizations, helping tell success stories that allow them to cement relationships with their constituents, raising funds and awareness. For our commercial clients like Integra LifeSciences, we’ve traveled the world to tell the stories of patients who have overcome devastating injuries and recovered successfully thanks to Integra’s amazing products. We call it putting a face on it… telling real-world stories that people can understand and identify with. It’s also a way of giving a voice to the voiceless, speaking up for those who can't, and bringing our viewers on a journey of discovery.
Building a Community: https://parkermotherandchild.org/
- Jim Parker