Diva Communications, Inc.

07/14/2020

Please, in the name of every refugee or asylum seeker you've ever known (including my great grandparents as well as Waheed, Palden, and Lobsang) please voice your opinions about these draconian changes being proposed that will restrict people even from asking for asylum or refuge in the United States. There's a template there-- as well as the wise words of Rev. Craig Mousin, ( a true mensch!). It's easy enough to do. Most of us wouldn't even be here if such regulations had been in place. Please take five minutes of your time!!!

Please help us send comments to the Department of Justice by July 15th about the new proposed rules severely restricting asylum in the United States: https://bit.ly/2C4SHEc

Core to our Vincentian mission is to advocate for the marginalized and oppressed. Rev. Craig B. Mousin, former Executive Director of the Midwest Immigrant Rights Center and Adjunct faculty member at DePaul University's College of Law explains the serverity of legislation being pushed forward and urges us to act.

Follow the link above to our "Way of Wisdom" blog to listen to the podcast explaining the situation which includes templates to help you send a comment to the DOJ.

(Photo by Rev. Craig B. Mousin. 2017 SOAW Convergence in Nogales, Arizona at the Mexico/Arizona border.)

07/14/2020

Your Opportunity to Respond to Proposed Changes Restricting Asylum in the United States [Podcast] | The Way of Wisdom

One of the best interviews I've ever done was with Rev. Craig Mousin , who is the Ombudsperson, a minister and a lawyer. His much recent blog urges all to file comments against the proposed asylum regulations which will prevent many refugees from even getting to apply for asylum.

I urge you all to go to this site, where there is a template you can use, and file your comments.

When I think of all the wonderful refugees and asylum seekers (Waheed, Palden and Lobsang, who is no longer on FB!) I met during the filming of BRIGHTNESS OF NOON, and the year I went to the detention center visiting some of them, all I can say, with every fiber of my being is:

PLEASE.

I will post the template as well.

https://blogs.depaul.edu/dmm/2020/07/11/your-opportunity-to-respond-to-proposed-changes-restricting-asylum-in-the-united-states-podcast/

Your Opportunity to Respond to Proposed Changes Restricting Asylum in the United States [Podcast] July 11, 2020July 11, 2020 bcicirel Mission Resources, Seeds of Missionasylum, immigrant, immigration, podcast, refugee, refugees Listen to the podcast: Vincentian Heritage · Your Opportunity to Respon...

04/26/2020

Thrilled to announce that we have just won an EMMY for BRIGHTNESS OF NOON: The Intersect of Faith, Immigration and Refugees Part II, which will be our 6th Emmy. We are so grateful to all the people who told their remarkable and compelling stories, and to ABC who, through the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, continues to air this kind of social justice documentary. WE ARE THRILLED!

04/06/2020

Interfaith Broadcasting Commission

Now More than Ever

The Interfaith Broadcasting Commission is planning on putting on a documentary examining the role of faith in this time of the coronavirus crisis. To facilitate, we are asking that whatever you are doing via Zoom, Webex, Shindig, Microsoft Team or other platform, you record. For most platforms, it’s as simple as pressing a little button resembling a camera to start recording. That’s all. Once you record it, you can contact us as to how to easily send us such a large file.

It can be a Passover Seder, an Easter service, a prayer service, counseling, or any other activity that you are doing in accordance with social distancing—we’re interested in it all. For more information feel free to message the IBC on FB or email [email protected]

09/06/2019

National Recovery Month | Recovery Month

September is National Recovery Month, an annual observance raising awareness about substance abuse treatment and mental health services and celebrating people in recovery.

To that end, Diva Communications’ latest documentary, tentatively titled HURTING INSIDE: WOMEN, FAITH AND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, reveals the struggles of women suffering from Opioid Use Disorder and the faith activists whose innovative treatment programs are addressing their needs. The program premieres May 2020 on ABC affiliated stations nationwide.

07/12/2019

The Lights for Liberty initiative this evening-- In New York, Foley Square; in New Jersey, the much "beloved" (not) Elizabeth Contract Detention Center; even in my small town of Leonia- got me thinking of this video we did in January 2017- "We Will Rise Up Together."

http://www.minchamoment.com/videos/mincha-moment-28-we-will-rise-up-together/

Please watch and share-- I think it's good for our souls.

06/20/2019

Brightness of Noon: Part II Trailer

Today, June 20th, is World Refugee Day and the number of people displaced by war, persecution, and violence in their home country has reached 70.8 million, according to a new report for UNHCR. That's an increase of 2.3 million people in just a single a year!

But there is help: People of faith stepping up to assist this vulnerable group in their time of need. And Diva's latest documentary, BRIGHTNESS OF NOON PART II, reveals the struggles of several of these activists who are determined - despite the political pushback - to offer thousands of refugees and asylum seekers a welcome home here in the United States. The film premiered this spring on over 160 ABC stations around the country. Watch the trailer below.

https://vimeo.com/315812266

And read more about BRIGHTNESS OF NOON here:

https://www.divacommunications.com/documentaries/brightness-of-noon-2/

This is "Brightness of Noon: Part II Trailer" by Diva Communications on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

06/14/2019

Judy Collins - Dreamers

Saw Judy Collins last night. And she performed this amazing song "Dreamers." It's a perfect accompaniment to BRIGHTNESS OF NOON.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oyok_k_n1AE

DREAMERS Words and Music by Judy Collins The Wildflower Company, LLC (ASCAP)

06/14/2019

Hi Facebook friends,

The intern we had for the summer ended up flying the coop for a paid job so Diva Communications now has a last-minute internship opening for the summer. If you know of any college students or extremely bright high schoolers interested in learning about documentary filmmaking at an Emmy Award-winning production company, please send them our way! (and bonus points if they know wordpress)

They can email [email protected] for more information.

Have a great weekend!

05/20/2019

Brightness of Noon Part II Encores in Chicago Saturday June 8 at 1pm

So happy that Chicago, WLS will be airing BRIGHTNESS OF NOON: The Intersect of Faith, Immigration and Refugees PART II on June 8th at 1:00 PM. Set your DVRs. One reviewer wrote: WOW! It's so powerful. It's so sad. It's so beautiful."

https://app.robly.com/archive?id=705850f1a54ff5c38d064a396cba6fd9&v=true

Brightness of Noon Part II Encores in Chicago Saturday June 8 at 1pm

03/26/2019

Protestors rally around immigrants hiding in Austin churches

We told the story of Hilda and her son Ivan in BRIGHTNESS OF NOON Part I-- we filmed them in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in October of 2017, where they have been living, with the incredible support of a true person of G-d, Rev. Jim Rigby. Ivan can attend school-other than that, he and Hilda cannot leave the Church grounds. I know better to ask, "have we no shame?" We do not.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Protestors-rally-around-immigrants-hiding-in-13701320.php

They are trying to stop the deportations of three Central Americans.

03/24/2019

For those who missed it when it aired on WMUR in Boston on February 17th, BRIGHTNESS OF NOON: The Intersect of Faith, Immigration and Refugees Part II will be airing on WCVB in Boston today at 2:00 pm. Set your DVR or getting the popcorn ready!

https://www.divacommunications.com/documentaries/brightness-of-noon-2/

03/12/2019

In recognition of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, we want to thank all of the brave women who shared their stories of domestic abuse in our documentary, I BELIEVE YOU. Each of you is an inspiration, and we thank you for your courage!
Watch the trailer for I BELIEVE YOU for a closer look at these powerful women: https://www.divacommunications.com/documentaries/i-believe-you/

03/08/2019

Diva Communications Inc. | Beauty of Their Dreams

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’d like to remind our friends and family that there is nothing more crucial to a community than the education of its girls. To see how education universally empowers women, watch the trailer for our documentary, BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS:
https://www.divacommunications.com/documentaries/beauty-of-their-dreams/

03/02/2019

This Sunday, March 3rd, our newest documentary, BRIGHTNESS OF NOON: THE INTERSECT OF FAITH, IMMIGRATION, AND REFUGEES – PART II, will be airing at 2:00 pm on ABC affiliates in these major markets: Pittsburgh (WTAE), Detroit (WXYZ), and Knoxville (WATE).

Also airing in South Bend – Elkhart (WBND) at 11 am and Clarksburg, West Virginia (EBOY) at 12 pm.

02/13/2019

Very exciting. Hopefully Sophia Bush' participation will help garner even more viewers, to what we think is Diva's best documentary yet.

02/11/2019

Trump's immigrant roundups increasingly net noncriminals

U.S. government's statistics indicate that Trump's crackdown on immigration results in more deportation of noncriminals. In the first nine months of the 2018 fiscal year, 66 percent more noncriminals were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the same period last year, while only 2 percent more convicts were arrested.

Adriana Cerrillo, an immigrant advocate believes, "the public should know how seldom those deported are actually accused of violent crimes".

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-s-immigrant-roundups-increasingly-net-noncriminals-n911366

ICE arrests of noncriminals increased 66 percent in the first nine months of the 2018 fiscal year over the same period a year earlier.

02/11/2019

BRIGHTNESS OF NOON PART II: The Intersect of Faith, Immigration and Refugees premieres across most of the country this Sunday February 17th-- including the BIG APPLE!!!! Check it out!

01/19/2019

Standing Up for the Girl Child — Economic Confidential

So we've been saying in our documentary BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS. “The children of educated mothers are 50% more likely to survive past the age of 5 years, while educated mothers are also more likely to send their own children to school. Almost 90% women with higher education and 75% of women with secondary education give birth in a health facility; but only 10% of uneducated women do so. 80% of children whose mothers are educated are well nourished, compared to less than 50% of children whose mothers are uneducated. Finally, if all girls in developing countries completed secondary school: under 5 child mortality would fall by 49%, maternal mortality would fall by 66% and the number of girls married off by age 15 would reduce by 64%.” Read more at: https://economicconfidential.com/2019/01/standing-girl-child/

Standing Up for the Girl Child What are the benefits of the Girl-child education? Speakers at a conference organized for African and traditional leaders What are the benefits of the Girl-child education? Speakers at a conference organized for African and traditional leaders in Abuja, shared

01/13/2019

Great News! BRIGHTNESS OF NOON: PART II will be airing on WABC in New York on Sunday February 17, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Listing of all ABC affiliated stations and when they are airing the doc will be posted on Diva Communications website shortly. Get a chance to see the incredible stories and hear the insight of Waheed Nadeer Saffour, Shadi Martini, Cindy Howarth Trussel, Craig Mousin, Rabbi Elliott Tepperman, among many others. And of course, Lobsang Gyatso, who was just granted asylum-- and his smile at the reservoir in Central Park will melt your heart.

12/14/2018

Diva Communications Inc. | Brightness Of Noon – Part 2

In recent weeks, over 6,000 Central Americans have arrived in Tijuana, Mexico hoping to enter the United States. Many are dissatisfied with the slow pace just to request asylum and a few have breached the border fence.

To learn more about those who embark on similarly arduous journeys, check out our latest documentary, BRIGHTNESS OF NOON PART I: THE INTERSECT OF FAITH, IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES and stay tuned for the second part of BRIGHTNESS OF NOON airing on ABC affiliated stations in early 2019.

You can watch the trailer for PART 2 here: https://www.divacommunications.com/documentaries/brightness-of-noon-2/

Offering sanctuary to the “stranger” is at the core of most religious traditions; sustaining them in an age of violence and cruelty is how we hold onto our human hearts.

12/10/2018

Diva Communications Inc. | Brightness Of Noon – Part 2

Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrant children subjected to gang-related violence in their homelands, travel to the U.S. in hopes of a better life. But due to inhumane policies, many have been forcibly separated from their families, causing them life-altering physical and mental problems.

At Diva, we believe every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment where they can fulfill their potential. And our latest documentary, BRIGHTNESS OF NOON: THE INTERSECT OF FAITH, IMMIGRATION, AND REFUGEES -- PART II, explores what people of faith are doing to help that happen.

The film airs on ABC-affiliated stations early next year. Watch the trailer here. https://www.divacommunications.com/do…/brightness-of-noon-2/

Offering sanctuary to the “stranger” is at the core of most religious traditions; sustaining them in an age of violence and cruelty is how we hold onto our human hearts.

12/07/2018

Diva Communications Inc. | Brightness Of Noon – Part 2

Every day, waves of desperate refugees flee persecution and violence in their home countries and seek asylum in the United States. What they have endured to get here is unimaginable. As helping strangers is at the core of the world’s major religions, what do faith leaders do to support them?

In our upcoming documentary BRIGHTNESS OF NOON: THE INTERSECT OF FAITH, IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEES, PART II, we follow various faith activists as they give comfort and aid to asylum seekers and refugees, all the while asking, “Are we willing to take some risks in order to protect human life and basic rights?”
The documentary airs on ABC-affiliated stations early next year.

Click here to watch the trailer: https://www.divacommunications.com/do…/brightness-of-noon-2/

Offering sanctuary to the “stranger” is at the core of most religious traditions; sustaining them in an age of violence and cruelty is how we hold onto our human hearts.

10/26/2018

The IBC and Diva have some available office space in the beautifully renovated Art Nouveau Film Center Building at 630 Ninth Avenue (between 44th- and 45th). Please share widely with anyone who might be interested or call me to find out more.

https://www.facebook.com/InterfaithBroadcasting/photos/pcb.802445749954823/802444519954946/?type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARAjnw3BH1zfx2mz8tb7lzIIp6TMtPlzeBgIupBzQVBn7xvQKXRBPwmLuM8VOa1jyZOC9E6pdzuGwsbJ&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDTCxThPQJlRYjTCEKJaRQQRjZRaco7Ki_Q9gef57Iqr38-Smpztgki01v1idouFNlKLbYgmPGXs1Gaz3HPA5GsU9XSsb0eZfFk-1lxrX47nwhbwKoLfOh58nIrg1XFdw7aHWEdLyqPPNRY61LfYiFfvlHH-B09xwVp1rsmcjMdnLESiYDQJclIR5USoXm0LS2_vydeOmadoGkYjRHUsURDKRJt-w

08/22/2018

Watch A Place For All Online | Vimeo On Demand

Although 1 out of 5 Americans has a disability, disabled people are still deeply stigmatized, often ostracized. A PLACE FOR ALL, available for purchase or rent on Vimeo on Demand, explores disability, faith, and how the two may work together to form more inclusive communities that respect “the infinite dignity of all people.”

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/aplaceforall

It is a startling number. According to the CDC, 1 out of 5 Americans has at least one disability. The fact is, we’re all going to be disabled one way or another.…

08/20/2018

Diva Communications Inc. | I Believe You

Almost a year has passed since the international reckoning brought by the #MeToo movement. As you take time to reflect on how much has changed in a year, and how much further we have to go, take an hour to revisit I BELIEVE YOU and learn of faith’s place in the larger conversation about abuse and partner violence. https://www.divacommunications.com/documentaries/i-believe-you

I BELIEVE YOU: Faiths’ Response to Intimate Partner Violence, is an extraordinary interfaith documentary that explores the stories of survivors of abuse and the response of faith groups to address their needs.

08/16/2018

Watch A Peace Of Bread: Faith, Food and the Future Online | Vimeo On Demand

When filming A PEACE OF BREAD: FAITH, FOOD, AND THE FUTURE 7 years ago, we were guided by the principles of Pirket Avot 2:16: you are “not obligated to finish the work (of perfecting the world) but neither are you allowed to desist from it.”

Watch A PEACE OF BREAD on DVD or Vimeo and get inspired by the faith leaders across the country mobilizing their communities to begin the work of ending world hunger.

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/apeaceofbread

There have been many documentaries exploring hunger issues but none quite like this. A Peace of Bread: Faith, Food and the Future is a compelling and heart-felt…