A deeply compelling film about survival and truth, by Ron Simmons
The summer of 2003 at Seward Park Old School Monday evening at 6PM
That summer a spontaneous reunion spurred a series of gigantic street parties for people who called the projects home. No plans, no permits, no problems.
In the summer of 2003 Louis Carter and Lawrence Green decided to organize a little reunion in Seward Park of friends he’d grown up with in nearby Cabrini Green. They joked that they had to hurry because the neighborhood was changing so fast they might not be welcome anymore. Several Cabrini high-rises between Chicago Avenue and Division Street had already been torn down, part of the massive, federally funded plan for transformation the city launched in the mid-90’s.
Yet neighborliness and a sense of community were very apparent at the August 9 Old School Monday, even though many of the people who’d called Cabrini home had lived there after it became infamous. It was like a high school reunion.
All around him he heard people shricking with joys as they saw friends they hadn’t seen in years. There must have been 800 people on Hill Street, which dead-ends at Orleans across from Seward Park people who’d grown up in the row houses, the red projects, white projects and the old working-class black neighborhoods just north of Division. There were people who still lived in Cabrini and former residents who’d come as far away as Las Vegas and other cities. It was a hot, sticky night.
People were grilling hot dogs and ribs and chicken. Someone had set up a makeshift stage near Byrd elementary school, and a DJ was playing Marvin Gaye, Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Chaka Khan, Major Lance, The Chi-Lites, Gladys Knight, Five Stairsteps and The Admirations. In the middle of Hill Street at least 60 couples were dancing and steppin. The last day of Old School Monday there was over 1,500 people who attended.
Lawrence Green called Ronnie about Old School Monday’s, Ronnie attended almost all of them. Seeing so many old friends he hadn’t seen in many years smiling, laughing and hugging each other. He saw young men who were in there after school programs and in their basketball tournament that told him that he was a role model to them and that he saved their life. Ronnie starts to think about the old days of living and growing up in Cabrini Green in the row houses he remembers when it all started.
People who lived and grew up in Cabrini Green, Ramsey Lewis, Jerry butler, Chaka Khan, Marvin Yancy, Curtis Mayfield, Major Lance, Mary Alice-Actress, Jackie Taylor-Founder of The Black Ensemble Theater/Actress, Joe Segal-Owner of the Jazz Showcase, Norman Gibson-Actor, Rick Stone-Actor/Artist, Retired Tony Watson Rear Admiral of US Nuclear Submarine , Ripple, The Epsilons, Andre Walker-Oprah’s Hairstylist, Eric Monte-Screenwriter for Good Times, Cooley High, What’s Happening, Sanford & Son, Dick Portillo-Founder/Owner of Portillo’s Restaurants, Legend 6, Joel Hall-Founder of The Joel Hall Dancers, Terry Callier-Songwriter/Artist, The Admirations, Fred Jenkins Bey-Member of the Gap Band, Gregory Hllimon-Actor, Shabba-Doo-Break Dancer/Actor, Robert Squirrel Lester of the Chi-Lites, NBA Pigeon Johnson, Al Carter Youth Foundation, The Intelli-Gents, Ronnie Simmons-1996 Olympian/Activist, Hubert Welch-Activist, William Gates-Hoop Dreams, Alexander Nelson-Activist, Carol Steele-Activist, Nate Jones-1996 Olympian/Trainer for Floyd Mayweather, Mr. Elzy, John Thompson, Mr. Hubert Wilson-Activist, Elax Taylor-Activist, Paulette Marshall-Activist, Marion Stamps-Activist, Al Carter-Bey-Activist, Mrs Childs, Mrs Ruth, Mrs Wilson, Mrs Jones, Mrs Nash, Mrs Davis-Activist, and the list goes on.
Time period of the feature film will be from 1957 to 1985.
The soundtrack will have famous recording artists from Chicago:
Curtis Mayfield, Chaka Khan, Ramsey Lewis, The Admirations, The Five Stairsteps, The Artistics, Patti Drew, Quincy Jones, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, Donny Hathaway, Jackie Wilson, The Staple Singers, Walter Jackson, The Dells, Gene Chandler, Minnie Riperton, The Emotions, The Chi-Lites, Miki Howard, Paulette McWilliams, Magnum Force, Heaven & Earth, Ruby Andrews, Gavin Christopher, Tyrone Davis, Lou Rawls, The Steelers, The Players, Brighter Side of Darkness, Son of Slums, 21st Century, The Lost Generation, The Notations, Earth Wind & Fire, Johnnie Taylor, Ko Ko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Otis Clay, Chicago, Charles Earland, Barbara Acklin, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Mannaquins, Masterplan, Sneak Preview, Patrick Howell Marlow and MzLeeLee!
