Thanks to PBS POV (a cinema term for "Point of View"), Clemente students in Oakland, CA will enjoy an integrated curriculum centered around the documentary Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust. Readings will include the Declaration of Independence, writings and art promoting the idea of manifest destiny, art from internment camps and indigenous art and artifacts, and essays such as Joan Didion's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" to explore the relationships between individuals, communities, and our planet. Scholars will also take field trips to local natural and cultural resources such as Angel Island and the Oakland Museum of California to immerse themselves in the rich history and ecosystem of Northern California. At the end of the course, students will work together to curate a public viewing of a documentary of their choosing, featuring a panel that will express the themes and ideas they discussed in class.

For more information about PBS POV and the Our America grants, please see their press release. We are so grateful for this funding, and look forward to exploring documentary filmmaking with our inaugural Oakland course!