Join PowerUp NC for a Film Screening of The Smell of Money, Liverary, and the People’s Museum: A Post-Earth Day Event of Community Education & Storytelling Experience
The event will be held at The New Hope Collaborative, located at 1725 N New Hope Rd. Raleigh, NC; inside of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Please register to attend the event using the form below.
ABOUT THE EVENING
Marginalized communities—especially low-income communities and communities of color—are often on the frontlines of environmental injustice. These communities bear the brunt of corporate pollution, health disparities, and systemic neglect.
At a time when efforts to silence these voices are intensifying and environmental justice initiatives face growing opposition, this event aims to uplift and center frontline stories. Through film, personal testimony, dialogue, and artistic expression, we seek to humanize the impact of environmental harm and reinforce the power of community truth-telling as a catalyst for justice.
About the documentary: The Smell of Money
https://www.smellofmoneydoc.com
“The smell of money”—that’s what Big Pork calls the stench of pig waste in the air in eastern North Carolina, where much of the world’s bacon and barbecue is made. But to Elsie Herring and others who live near the state’s giant pig factories, the revolting odor is a call to battle against generations of injustice.
When a corporate hog farm moves in–uninvited–on land her grandfather had purchased after claiming his freedom from slavery, Elsie Herring decides to fight back. But as her rural community becomes the epicenter of the pork industry’s explosion in America, Elsie’s struggle to save her family’s home and heritage turns into a battle against one of the world’s most powerful companies and its deadly pollution.
After decades of intimidation and defeat, Elsie and her community team up with a gutsy small-town lawyer to take the world’s largest pork company to court. An epic, nine-year legal battle ensues, and the residents risk everything to reclaim their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of shit.
A story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over even the largest forces of injustice, The Smell of Money calls upon viewers to see the people behind what’s on our plates––and to join the fight for a better future for us all.
Liverary: Human Books Session
The “Liverary” is a unique storytelling experience where you’ll have the opportunity to engage in intimate, one-on-one conversations with individuals who have lived firsthand experiences with environmental injustice. These “human books” will share their powerful personal stories, offering insight into the realities of living on the frontlines of pollution, health disparities, and systemic neglect. This session provides a space for direct dialogue and deeper understanding, allowing attendees to connect with the voices of those most impacted by environmental issues in Eastern North Carolina.
The People’s Museum (Throughout the Event)
The People’s Museum is a participatory art exhibit that invites you to reflect on the meaning of environmental justice through creative expression. Whether through drawings, poems, photos, or messages, this exhibit encourages you to contribute your own thoughts and experiences about what environmental justice means to you. As a living, evolving display, it highlights the collective voice of the community and provides a visual representation of the ongoing fight for environmental justice. You can add to the exhibit or simply explore the contributions of others, fostering a sense of shared experience and solidarity.
REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
