Big Blend Radio: Let My People Vote

While media pundits and other experts debate the impact Russia had on the 2016 election, a riveting short documentary exposing the harsh voter suppression laws that prohibit 6.1 million Americans from voting, is fast becoming a rallying call for youth to participate in the midterm elections. Filmed in Tampa, 2 days before the 2016 presidential election, this verité short covers a day-in-the-life of civil rights activist, Desmond Meade. It's Sunday, “Souls to the Polls,” the last day of early voting. Desmond is canvasing door to door. His mission? “Assisting people in voting - something our "forefathers marched and died for." 

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, acclaimed film director Gilda Ann Brasch discusses Let My People Vote, the 2018 award winning short documentary on voter suppression released through her media start-up, VUSI Filmworks. An award-winning producer and director, Brasch tells tales of underdog heroes. She helped produce and direct Oprah Winfrey's ABC primetime special, "Building A Dream," the acclaimed documentary on The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa. Most recently Brasch executive produced five seasons of VH1's hit franchise "Love & Hip Hop." Inspired after meeting Nelson Mandela in South Africa, and filming in his prison cell of 27 years, Brasch founded VUSI Filmworks with a focus on filmmaking for social change.

This episode was sponsored by the National Parks Arts Foundation who creates unique artist-in-residence programs in park units within the National Parks Service.