Rural-Urban Solidarity Project
A statewide film series celebrating racial justice actions in rural Kentucky
The Rural-Urban Solidarity Project is a film series documenting the widespread racial justice actions of rural Kentuckians in response to the killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and celebrating the legacy of Black Kentuckians across the state. With films from Covington, Harlan, Murray, and Paducah, the project hopes to uplift these stories and inspire greater connection, solidarity, and interdependence across generations + institutions in Kentucky. The films were premiered on August 5, 2023, in Covington, Harlan County, and Paducah, and a virtual premiere was held on August 8, 2023.
Films
Learn about the four short films from Covington, Harlan, Murray + Paducah, KY.
Words I Speak: Solidarity + Resiliency (Covington)
The Covington film captures stories of Northern Kentucky solidarity and resilience through conversation with Black women leaders in Covington, Newport, and Elsmere in Northern Kentucky. The segment offers a look back at the past, a context for the Black Lives Matter movement, and aspirations for transformative changes in the future. Produced by Pamela Mullins, and technical assistance by Elton "Tony" Gordon. Watch here!
Ghosts of a Lost Cause (Murray)
The Murray film focuses on the murder of Breonna Taylor and the failures of the criminal justice system that followed, which thrust Kentucky into the 2020 Movement for Black Lives and required a reckoning with persistent racial disparities in social and economic conditions and outcomes. This film documents the stories of ordinary citizens who chose to fight and explores the quintessential questions - What does it mean to be a Kentuckian? Whose voices and lives matter? What happens when we silence the voices of citizens seeking justice? Produced by Gerry James + Sherman Neal II. Videography by Josh Mauser (KERTIS) + Curtis Franklin. Edited by Seth Hawkins.
Little Big Light: Stories from Black Appalachians (Harlan)
The Harlan County film highlights the Eastern Kentucky Social Club - a treasured Black Appalachian homecoming place - and shares stories of resistance and resilience from Black people in Harlan County: what they endured, how they overcame obstacles, and how they stayed strong as a community through it all. Produced by Shaylan Clark with support from Oakley Fugate (Appalshop) and videographer Josh Mauser (KERTIS).
Preserving the Past to Build a Better Future (Paducah)
The Paducah film features the story of the Hotel Metropolitan, a hotel-turned-museum that has hosted superstars like James Brown, Etta James, and Louis Armstrong – and the Hotel’s champion Betty Dobson–who talks about Paducah as an epicenter for Black Kentuckians in the early 1900s, the 8th of August tradition, and the importance of preserving and sharing Black history – especially the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd – to create a better future. Produced by Betty Dobson and Taylor Killough with support from Kasper Brightside and Chelsae Ketchum (KERTIS), and edited by Wesley Bacon.
Meet the Producers
The Rural-Urban Solidarity Project was created by producers from all over the state.
Shaylan Clark is a filmmaker from Harlan, Kentucky who is passionate about film making and raising awareness about issues that affect the people of Appalachia. She has interned with the Appalachian Media Institute for two years and made a documentary that discussed Black Lung disease called Dying Breed in hopes of educating people on what Black Lung is and how it affects the health of coal miners. Her second film discussed the lack of sexual education in rural communities. She now directs the organization Sexy Sex Ed. Shaylan hopes to continue making films that have a positive impact on her community while educating others on the issues that many people in Appalachia may face.
Gerry Seavo James is a storyteller who uses photography, cinematography, public relations, journalism, and mixed media to tell stories about the landscapes and people he encounters in his travels across the Commonwealth and beyond. Gerry is the Deputy Director of Outdoors for All at the Sierra Club, as well as the founding Director of The Explore Kentucky Initiative and an alumni and founding Steering Committee member of the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX). Gerry has helped to further the field of adventure tourism and community and cultural exploration across Kentucky through EKI, and through his participation in RUX, has worked across rural Kentucky communities and counties.
Pamela Mullins has been telling community stories as a public television producer for more than 30 years, often broadcasting her productions on the local TBNK community television network, where she has served as the past chairman of the volunteer producers committee and has received numerous video producer awards through the years including the Blue-Chip cable. Pam is the founder and a former member of the Community and Restorative Justice-Covington, she created and produced the Northern Kentucky African American Heritage Festival, and created and produced an annual awards celebration called "Honoring our Elders’ Dreams". Pam is a Covington Holmes High graduate, and the University of Cincinnati. In 1990, she was elected as the first African American to the Covington Schools Board of Education. In 1998, she became the first African American woman elected to the Covington City Commission. She championed, introduced, and sponsored the ordinance that created the Covington Human Rights Commission and currently serves as a member. In 2007, Ms. Mullins was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame and was honored in 2019 as a “Phenomenal Woman” for on-going and outstanding community work.
Betty Dobson is the director of Paducah’s historic Hotel Metropolitan, which was founded in 1908 by Maggie Steed and served as a hotel for African-American travelers until it closed in 1996. In 2023, Betty was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear to chair the Kentucky African-American Heritage Commission, an organization she has served with since 2021.
Taylor Killough is a producer and journalist based in Louisville, Kentucky. Her interests are diverse and many; she has produced pieces about refugees, the physicality of ballet, a DIY/punk music festival, and invasive fish species. For several years, Taylor covered the intersection of agriculture and the environment as a news blogger and reporter for Earth Eats, a blog and podcast from WFIU in Bloomington, Indiana. Prior to that, she was a production intern at StoryCorps, an oral history and public radio project that appears weekly on NPR. As a journalism graduate student at Indiana University, Taylor was a reporter for WFIU, producing daily stories, newscasts, radio, and video stories. Her undergraduate degree is in cultural anthropology, and she has professional experience in educational and non-profit settings.
Sherman Neal II is an attorney and decorated Marine Corps Officer who completed two deployments in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He is also the founder/owner of Rising Tide Sports – a concierge sports firm that provides consulting services and utilizes NIL opportunities to empower college athletes.
Outside of Entertainment, Arts, and Sports matters Sherman’s professional experience includes infrastructure project management, intercollegiate athletics administration, coaching Division I football, and government relations. Additional practice areas include criminal defense (military and civilian) and immigration.
In addition to Sherman’s work as a community organizer he produced the 2023 documentary “Ghosts of the Lost Cause” and was featured in a documentary published by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting titled “The Friendliest Small Town in America” (2022) which arose of of advocating for the removal of the Confederate Monument located in Calloway County, Kentucky and criminal justice advocacy. He regularly provides commentary and speaks publicly on issues surrounding equity, equality, and justice focused on campaign design.
Sherman received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University (2009) in addition to playing (4) years of Division 1 Football, Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law (2013), Masters in Science of Sports Business from Temple University (2020) in addition to earning 2021 School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management Alumni Association Impact Award, and LL. M. in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law from the University of Miami School of Law (2021), in addition to completing various professional military education programs.
Sherman is the father of Jett Neal II (7) and Skyler Neal (5) and dedicates his time to making sure the America they inherit values their lives. Other volunteer activities include serving on the board of directors for the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Insurance Corp, advocating for children through CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children), and supporting veterans service organizations. Sherman is also a marathon runner, Eagle Scout, youth sports coach, and enjoys doing anything outdoors. He is a native of Naperville, IL currently resides in suburban Atlanta, Georgia.
Key Positions Held: Attorney, Commander, Project Manager, Producer, Filmmaker, Community Organizer, Board Member, Military Leadership, Non-Profit Leadership, Consultant, Agent, Lobbyist, Grant-Writer, Athlete, DEIJB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice), Supply Chain Management & Logistics, Event Management.