Creating Social Justice Documentaries
Over the last decade I have created and managed hundreds of short and feature documentaries about social justice issues surrounding immigrant, Black, Indigenous, veteran, and queer communities.
My work as a director, producer, line producer, or digital strategist is always centered in inclusive, intersectional storytelling.
I specialize in intersectional feminist, health, queer, and religious content.
Enjoy a sample of my documentary portfolio below.
Bring Her Home follows three Indigenous women – an artist, an activist, and a politician – as they fight to vindicate and honor their missing and murdered relatives who have fallen victims to a growing epidemic across Indian country. Despite the lasting effects from historical trauma, each woman must search for healing while navigating racist systems that brought about this very crisis. Role: Line Producer
Out North: MNLGBTQ History explores the untold past of Minnesota's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community and celebrates the strides the state has made since the gay liberation movement began in the 1970s. Role: Production Manager
Reclaiming Sacred Tobacco depicts Minnesota’s American Indian communities reclaiming traditional practices, highlighting sacred tobacco, and discouraging commercial tobacco use in order to promote a healthier lifestyle. Role: Production Manager
The universe is trying to kill us. We are alive today because an invisible army of professionals has been working tirelessly for over a century to save our lives and improve our health. Their work affects us every day, in ways we never see. Discover the past, present and future of this unseen world of heroes. Produced in partnership with University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Role: Production Manager
Stories originating in places like Willmar, Bemidji, St. Paul, Fort Campbell, and South Vietnam provide personal perspectives of what the war in Vietnam was like for the teens and young adults who experienced it. Role: Production Manager
Four Native American Vietnam War veterans reflect on the agony of war and how their communities helped them carry their warrior legacy proudly. A lifetime later, these soldiers begin to tell their stories. Funding provided by Vision Maker Media and The Mark and Mary Davis Foundation. Role: Associate Producer & Production Manager
Arthur Buckner and Linda Diaz are accomplished musicians and music teachers exploring the music theory, production, history and culture behind our favorite songs and musical styles. Role: Production Manager
Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood of Empowerment and TPT Partnerships present “Muslim Sheroes of Minnesota” – profiles amplifying girls and women in our community who aren’t waiting for permission to change the world. Role: Production Manager
A six-month pilot sprint, the collection shed light on Minnesota's devastating housing crisis. I led a 5+ person team designing a mix of old & new coverage to assemble 30 multimedia video articles which have been used to lobby for more equitable housing solutions by the East Side Housing movement in St. Paul. Role: Production Manager
A two-year multilingual campaign for the 2020 Census, this project featured 15 original pieces of media that reached over 10+ million viewers between June 2019 & July 2020 and was featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. I led creative strategy, distribution, and managed 10+ staff across all stages of project work. Role: Production Manager
A three-year, multi-grant funded series, this web collection designed educational materials to understand the complexities of food insecurity, available programs like WIC and SNAP, and how meal time is family time. I led project design and execution across 60 videos for digital and broadcast, four multilingual toolkits, and 50+ community partners between 2015-2018. Role: Managing Producer
A three-year grant project that brings Muslim and non-Muslim communities to table together to foster empathy and solidarity. I led a 30+ person team responsible for producing and distributing 10 original multimedia stories, 4 large-scale virtual event workshops, a digital cookbook, and a robust final report. Role: Managing Producer
A two year station initiative, this project is required to deliver 144 digital pieces, host 8 listening sessions, produce 6 virtual events, create a 10-episode original digital series. I manage a 20+ person team across all stages of project work. Role: Managing Producer
2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast featuring keynote speaker David Oyelowo. Role: Managing Producer
Hundreds gathered together to hear acclaimed authors Tim O'Brien and Marlon James in an honest and emotional conversation that covered O’Brien's experiences during, and learnings from, the Vietnam War; their lives as writers; and their perspectives on the power of story in creating connections. Produced with Macalester College. Role: Managing Producer
Dr. Atul Gawande, author of "Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End," speaks with Cathy Wurzer about end of life care, and shares his vision of healthcare that helps people live well to the end. Produced with Allina Health and the Minnesota Network for Hospice and Palliative Care. Role: Production Manager
One local fashionista wants you to know: 'Fat' is not a bad word. A Minneapolis feminist, shop owner and pool-party planner hustles for fat liberation. Directed by: Diana Fraser
Behold the Inclusive, Body-Positive Gym That Rejects Fatphobia. Gym members, trainers and staff don't waste any time contrasting fatness and fitness in the workout facility imaged by the women behind the 'Matter of Fat' podcast. Directed by: Diana Fraser
Vietnam Era Veteran & Archivist Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Risked It All. But if he had played it safe, the Tretter Collection - the Midwest's best collection of LGBTQ+ artifacts and documents - might have remained a pipe dream. Directed by: Diana Fraser
What Do the Stonewall Riots Mean to MN's LGBTQ+ Communities? Coverage in honor of the 50th anniversary (2019) Directed by: Diana Fraser