Film Showing: New Metropolis

Posted by on July 20, 2009

First Suburbs sponsors documentary preview

A New Metropolis, which will air on public television in the fall, focuses on America’s “first suburbs” – those suburban communities built next to urban centers, once the birthplace of the American Dream.  Driven by a desire to escape the smokestacks of the central cities, and a housing shortage following World War II, thousands of suburban homes were rapidly constructed and middle class families flocked to them. But as population shifted from urban cores to ever-distant suburbs, the original suburbs began facing a crisis: a dwindling tax base, population and business loss, decaying infrastructure and declining public services, increased demographic tensions and middle class flight.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania First Suburbs Project will host two preview screenings of the documentary, each of which will be followed by discussion about how communities can sustain an organizing base that can, in turn, advance and sustain important regional equity policies – including a sound system of education finance.

http://www.sepafsp.org/

Screenings will be held on Thursday, July 23rd at 7pm at Lathem Hall at Widener University, 13th and Potter Streets in Chester, and on Thursday, July 30th at 7pm at East Norriton Middle School, 330 Roland Drive in Norristown.

There is a $15 suggested donation payable at the door. To reserve a ticket or for more information, email [email protected].