Story Development / Documentary Production / Interview Direction / On-Site Video Capture
Circle East District
Industry
Documentary Production
Civic Storytelling
Community Narrative
Year
2024
East Cleveland has long been defined by headlines rather than by its residents.
The Circle East Documentary was created to help shift that narrative.
In collaboration with Professor Nicholas S. Mays, and in partnership with the Cuyahoga Land Bank, Underdogs produced an original documentary centered on the voices of East Cleveland residents and the upcoming Circle East District revitalization efforts.
This was not a promotional overview of development plans. It was a story about people and place.
The documentary captures long-time residents reflecting on the city’s past, its challenges, and what revitalization could mean for their families and neighborhoods.
Interviews and on-site storytelling highlight:
Lived experiences within East Cleveland
Community resilience amid decades of disinvestment
Hope tied to structured redevelopment efforts
The possibility of a different future
Rather than framing revitalization through architectural renderings or policy language, the film grounds it in human perspective.
The project was produced in alignment with the Cuyahoga Land Bank and with support from East Cleveland leadership, including Mayor Sandra Morgan.
By involving both community voices and civic leadership, the documentary bridges perception and policy — demonstrating that redevelopment is not just structural, but social.
East Cleveland carries a reputation that often overshadows its potential.
The Circle East Documentary was designed to compete with that narrative — offering a more balanced, resident-led perspective on where the city has been and where it may be headed.
It preserves the history of the neighborhood while documenting tangible progress and future-facing ambition.
The film serves as both archive and outlook.
It captures a city at an inflection point — honoring the voices of those who stayed while exploring what revitalization could mean for the next generation.
When communities tell their own story, the narrative changes.
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