The documentary, by producer Fernando Ramirez in collaboration with Be the Good Media<\/a>, was shot in Philadelphia on Temple\u2019s Main Campus; the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown; and Polish cities of Warsaw, Lublin and Przemysl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur film is a call to action to understand the facts of the crisis beyond the statistics you hear on social media or a two-minute snippet on the news,\u201d Ramirez said. \u201cIt amplifies the voices of Ukraine to educate our next generation of changemakers to the global challenges that refugees, immigrants and migrants face, including learning a new language, finding a place to live and receiving the necessary education.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou will hear from the Ukrainian families that we\u2019ve been supporting and get a real story that will be emotional and painful to hear, but remaining silent is not an option,\u201d he added. \u201cIt will allow people to think about how they can help.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The film\u2019s producer explained that Temple\u2019s contributions to support Ukrainian families have been incredibly valuable, which are featured in this documentary. He met Stacey Harpster<\/a>, KLN<\/em> \u201999, FOX<\/em> \u201901, an assistant professor of instruction at the Klein College of Media and Communication, by chance at a Ukrainian church in Northern Liberties in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur film is a call to action to understand the facts of the crisis beyond the statistics you hear on social media or a two-minute snippet on the news.\u201d <\/p>\nFernando Ramirez, Producer<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Harpster was sitting inside the church with Ukrainian families, hearing stories about how their homes were destroyed because of the war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was moved when I heard the harrowing story of two women who walked 450 miles from Kyiv, Ukraine, to Warsaw, Poland, sleeping inside of a McDonald\u2019s on their journey and ultimately arriving in my Philadelphia neighborhood. I had to meet them and welcome them to our city,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She connected Ramirez with Diamond Edge Communications (DEC)<\/a>, Temple\u2019s student-run advertising agency, who redesigned the Bridges 2030\u2019s website<\/a> and expanded the film\u2019s messaging and social media presence and campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPart of my mission as a Temple professor is to expose my students to opportunities to use their advertising skills and talents to promote good in the world,\u201d said Harpster, the DEC faculty director. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Harpster is also featured in the film for doing significant work in the Northern Liberties neighborhood with the help of neighbors, local businesses and Bridges 2030, providing Ukrainian families with dentist appointments; job placement assistance; school selection; and securing daycare, summer camp, furniture, clothing, financial donations and more. Last year, she and Temple students collaborated with Bridges 2030 and Temple\u2019s Office of Global Engagement to do a Christmas drive, donating 160 pounds of gloves, socks and toys for children in an orphanage in Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShooting this documentary helped humanize the stories of Ukrainians who have been forcibly displaced from their homes and highlights the efforts of people who have helped along the way,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, I am hoping the film inspires others to take action in helping displaced communities.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Maya Sarver, KLN<\/em> \u201923, a Temple student interviewed in the film, was on the DEC team at Temple who assisted in growing the Bridges 2030\u2019s social media presence on Instagram and LinkedIn by helping craft the film\u2019s message with the Gen Z audience. Her efforts helped Ramirez get connected with other nonprofits and large businesses that provided donations for Ukrainian families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think our generation can be more creative in the ways we bring awareness to a humanitarian crisis by using social media and advertising to provide resources and donations to those in need,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She got involved in the film\u2019s mission after taking Harpster\u2019s advertising course, Diamond Edge Communications. Sarver became the art director for Bridges 2030, creating the designs for much of their content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She reported her work as a life-changing experience prompted by hearing stories from Yana, the Ukrainian mother who shared her journey to Philadelphia with the Temple students taking the DEC class. Sarver learned that Ukrainian families had no power due to the Russian airstrikes that targeted power plants in Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHearing the stories from Yana about her fight for survival, from their homes being without power in the cold winter and how she had to leave her husband behind changed my life,\u201d said Sarver. \u201cDespite being geographically far, I wanted to help.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n She explained Bridges 2030 ended up donating a generator to a community center in Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor Fernando, I know cultivating compassion is a big theme in this film,\u201d she added. \u201cI see a bright future where my generation is even more compassionate, willing to sit down, listen and take action.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s for all of us, our democracy and freedom,\u201d added Ramirez. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The film\u2019s producer Fernando Ramirez will be in attendance for a panel discussion and Q&A session at the Science Education and Research Center on Temple\u2019s Main Campus on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 3:30 p.m. RSVP for the event<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This article originally appeared on Temple Now<\/a> Header Photo caption: Film producer Fernando Ramirez says Beyond the Statistics focuses on the courage, resiliency and determination of the forcibly displaced Ukrainian people who arrived in Philadelphia. Filming of the documentary was shot at sites on Temple University\u2019s Main Campus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The premiere of Beyond the Statistics, a film amplifying the voices of forcibly displaced people from Ukraine, takes place at Temple University on Feb. 7.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 5 MIN READ<\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/owltopia\/files\/2024\/02\/beyond-the-statistics-doc-photo-2-1024x768.jpg\")
Written by Brent Baum<\/a>
Photos courtesy of Stacey Harpster<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n