Media Projects

06/03/2025

“This is better than an Academy Award.”
Why? Because instead of taking home a gold statue, filmmaker Cynthia Salzman Mondell got to ask for help for the women at the heart of IN HER SHOES.

We’re so honored to have received a Dallas County Commissioners Court Proclamation recognizing the impact of IN HER SHOES, our documentary that shares the powerful stories of incarcerated women in the Dallas County Jail. These women are artists, survivors, and storytellers and their voices matter.

📽️ Watch this short clip of Cynthia accepting the proclamation and speaking from the heart: https://youtube.com/shorts/6td_3HwfCO4?si=BoqqAR6TjQkVMokX

Please like, share, and comment to help us spread the word. The more people who see this, the more people who understand: incarcerated women are not just statistics. They are human beings with dignity, dreams, and stories worth hearing.

Award-winning filmmaker Cynthia Salzman Mondell of Media Projects Inc. accepts a Dallas County Commissioners Court Proclamation for In Her Shoes, a documenta...

05/29/2025

Thank you to everyone in North Texas who tuned in to A REASON TO LIVE on KERA-TV! We’re so grateful for the outpouring of support during Mental Health Awareness Month.

If you watched the film, we’d love to hear from you. Did anything resonate with you? Did the stories spark reflection or conversation in your own life?

Your feedback helps us continue this vital work and reminds us why these stories matter.

Please share your thoughts in the comments or send us a message. Every voice counts.

***dePrevention

05/28/2025

Airing now on KERA-TV!

05/27/2025

🎥 TRAILER DROP + TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT!

🧠 Mental health matters.
💬 Stories save lives.
📺 Watch the trailer for A REASON TO LIVE right now and then join us for the full broadcast TONIGHT at 8PM on KERA-TV!

This award-winning documentary from Media Projects Inc. features powerful stories from young people who’ve faced depression, suicidal thoughts, and found their way back. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a teen, or someone who just wants to understand - this film is for you.

✨ WATCH the trailer: https://youtu.be/7DxS1wlmCjo?si=NuzxeUil_Ayd91ba
✨ TUNE IN tonight at 8PM CST on KERA-TV (PBS)
✨ SHARE this post to spread the word; you never know who might need it.

📍 North Texas friends: let’s show up for youth mental health. Let’s make noise. Let’s save lives.

🔗 www.mediaprojects.org
***dePrevention

Experience A REASON TO LIVE, an award-winning documentary that delves into the lives of young people affected by depression and suicidal thoughts, offering h...

05/27/2025

Tonight’s the night! A REASON TO LIVE airs at 8PM on KERA-TV and we hope you’ll join us.

This powerful documentary shares honest, life-saving stories from young people navigating depression, su***de, and the journey back to hope. If you’ve ever needed a reason to keep going - or wanted to better understand someone else’s - this film is for you.

We're also honored to have a letter to the editor published in today’s Dallas Morning News, sharing why Mental Health matters so deeply.

North Texas friends: tune in at 8PM. And start the conversation... Because lives depend on it.

***dePrevention

Letters to the Editor

05/26/2025

TOMORROW NIGHT: Tune in to KERA-TV at 8PM for the broadcast of A REASON TO LIVE! This powerful, award-winning documentary shares the stories of young people who’ve faced deep mental health challenges and found their way back. Whether you're a parent, educator, advocate, or simply someone who cares, this film is a must-watch.

North Texas viewers, don’t miss this chance to witness a story that is saving lives and sparking vital conversations. Let's come together this Mental Health Awareness Month to break the silence around depression and su***de.

A REASON TO LIVE airs Tuesday, May 27 at 8PM on KERA-TV.

***dePrevention

05/22/2025

Honored to receive a Dallas County Proclamation for IN HER SHOES, our documentary amplifying the voices of women incarcerated in the Dallas County Jail.

In this short clip, Cynthia speaks about why their stories matter - because these women are not just statistics. They are human beings with dreams, resilience, and worth.

Watch the clip and help us keep their voices heard.
🎥https://youtube.com/shorts/cRsQ-H7E6Ec?si=TaEmI20CCuIA3L_B

05/21/2025

Honored. Grateful. Inspired.

Yesterday, IN HER SHOES was recognized with a Dallas County Proclamation for its impact in raising awareness about the mental health and rehabilitation needs of incarcerated women.

Thank you to Commissioner Elba Garcia for her powerful words and for showcasing the art created by the women in the Dallas County Jail - women who shared stories of trauma, strength, and hope through their shoes.

This film is more than a documentary, it’s a call to action. As our filmmaker, Cynthia Salzman Mondell said in her speech: “An Academy Award gives you a statue. This gives me the chance to ask for real change.”

Thank you to artist/educator Sandra Lara, our amazing collaborators, our funders, and the brave women whose voices and art made this possible.

Let’s keep the promise to bring this film, and their stories, as far as we can.

05/19/2025

We're honored to be making our mark in our home state of this Mental Health Awareness Month.

Tomorrow, IN HER SHOES, winner of the National Media Award from Mental Health America, will be officially recognized by the Dallas County Commissioners Court with a proclamation at the Dallas County Records Building - a meaningful moment for a film that uplifts the voices of incarcerated women and their mental health journeys.

And one week from today, A REASON TO LIVE, our documentary on youth mental health and su***de prevention, will air on KERA-TV at 8 PM on May 27th.

Both films highlight the urgent need for open, compassionate conversations around mental health. We’re proud to keep pushing that conversation forward, in Texas and beyond.

05/15/2025

We are honored to receive an official Dallas County Proclamation for IN HER SHOES, our Mental Health America National Media Award-winning documentary about women in the DALLAS COUNTY JAIL participating in a healing art class that chronicles their journeys through the shoes they have worn. The film has been screened at universities and organizations nationwide, but it is especially meaningful to be recognized, once again, here in our home state of Texas, where the documentary was filmed.

Please join us on Tuesday, May 20 at the Dallas County Records Office for the presentation of the proclamation. (And don’t forget to tune in Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. for the KERA-TV broadcast of A REASON TO LIVE.) Share this post with your connections to spread the word and DM us if you'd like to host a screening in your community. 💓

05/14/2025

Big news for Mental Health Awareness Month! Media Projects Inc. is proud to share that two of our most powerful documentaries are being honored right here in Texas. IN HER SHOES, filmed inside the Dallas County Jail, was officially recognized by the Dallas County Commissioners Court for its impact on incarcerated women and its message of healing through art and will be recognized with a proclamation on May 20th. Plus, A REASON TO LIVE, our acclaimed film about youth mental health and su***de prevention, will air on KERA-TV May 27 at 8 PM CST. Both films are available for community screenings, classrooms, and nonprofit partnerships. Learn more at www.mediaprojects.org.

05/09/2025

A REASON TO LIVE airs on KERA TV this month!

North Texans, save the date --> May 27th at 8pm.

If you or your organization has a commitment to confronting mental health challenges and creating real impact, make sure to tune in and reach out to us at [email protected] to host a screening in your community. Together, we can start important conversations, be a catalyst for real healing, and change lives.