MedSchool Maryland Productions collaborating with the UMB CURE Scholars program produced a series of videos to highlight the special features of this dynamic science program in three junior high schools in west Baltimore. Several videos produced explored the lives of participants in the program, as well as one short documentary entitled “Shakeer from West Baltimore.”
Twelve year-old Shakeer lives in West Baltimore, a few blocks from where Freddie Gray was picked up by police and subsequent riots broke out. In his neighborhood, struggling with generational poverty, an entrenched drug trade and decades of violence, over 40% of teens do not graduate from high school. Witnessing the tragedy surrounding Freddie Gray’s death, Shakeer is inspired to find another path, determined that the powerful forces of his neighborhood will not define his destiny. This documentary follows Shakeer’s year in sixth grade, ending with his awards-ceremony speech to teachers and family. In his speech, Shakeer looks toward a future of promise and change– “ I can see the world being better for African Americans because I am going to be one of the people making it better for African Americans.”
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