Healing Pole (2002)

The Healing Pole is a 30-minute documentary that aired on PBS in September 2002. The film tells the story of a cross-section of "at-risk" Monterey County, California youth - sons of Salinas farm workers, daughters of Viet Nam refuges, African American "gang" kids – who come together to create a 27' totem pole carved with images of earth’s endangered species, and give it as a gift to the City of New York - as a symbol of unity and healing after the 9/ll tragedy. Through the film’s story, we see the youths develop pride in themselves and in their newfound ability to make a contribution to society.