'Ambassadors of Hope' Wins Dan Eldon Award

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JEANNE MEYERS
Co-founder/Director
The MY HERO Project
[email protected] 

'Ambassadors of Hope' Wins Dan Eldon Award

The Trailer, 'Ambassadors of Hope' has been selected as the winner of the Dan Eldon Activist Award at the 20th MY HERO International Film Festival!  Said Wendy Milette, Film Festival Director: "This beautiful trailer highlights the remarkable heroism of Harambee Arts touching the lives of young people in Kenya."  

One of Harambee Arts’ most profound impacts can be seen in the Kibera slum, located in Nairobi, Kenya. Here, a group of local mentors holds space for children to express themselves through art, offering them a much-needed outlet in a world often fraught with struggle. Among these mentors is Samson, a young man who grew up in Kibera and deeply understands the harsh realities faced by the children he works with.

SamsonCassidy Friedman

In the film Ambassadors of Hope, directed by Cassidy Friedman and Amber Allen-Peirson, Samson shares how art changed his life and how it now helps the children he mentors escape the harshness of their daily lives. His connection with these children is clearly personal, and his passion for art is palpable.

To see the full film go to: Ambassadors of Hope Full Film - Password: Hope 

Said Samson, “The kids there go through a lot of hardships. They need someone to be there for them. You can express yourself only when you trust someone. That’s why Harambee Arts is working. Something grew in me I became more loving. Unity grew in me.”

We see that art becomes not only a way for these children to express their feelings, but also a means of fostering hope and building friendships. Samson and Harambee Arts offer a lifeline for these young participants, showing them that their voices matter and that healing is possible.

MY HERO interviewed Cassidy about their work and inspiration for making the documentary. You can watch the trailer HERE.

What are you doing now?

Amber and I are close friends, collaborators and storytellers who hold space for people as a way to empower them to share their story. She is a poet, author and counselor. My background is as a journalist and filmmaker, with a focus on conflict resolution. We have worked together for several years on a number of projects, including a feature doc tentatively entitled CLARITY that we've nearly completed editing now about Amber's search for belonging as a Black biracial woman. Her journey starts in liberal white Marin County, then traces her heritage journey through places that are as wildly different as Utah, Louisiana, and Ghana. Our belief is that we are all only reflections of each other but we are caught up in a culture that would prefer to divide us rather than have us see each other and be accountable to each other. We were inspired by Ambassadors of Hope to make a second short film in Kathmandu, that we've nearly completed, about Harambee Arts's survivor-led efforts to provide recovery for girls and women who have been abused in Nepal. This film focuses on a brave survivor who, like Samson, started as a participant and has since become a great mentor and social justice pioneer.

Could you tell us about the process of making the film?

Amber and I had begun working together on CLARITY when Gloria approached me after seeing my last feature, CIRCLES, which centered on a hero of the restorative justice movement in Oakland schools. Gloria had known me as a young child, and we reconnected in a deep way. She scrambled to raise funds for a short film and invited me and Amber to Africa and introduced us to Samson - also a hero, but of a very different sort than I was accustomed to meeting. He was shy, nervous and not used to occupying the spotlight but Samson was also really excited about having a film made about his story. To ensure he would feel comfortable throughout, the three of us built a trusting relationship where he knew he could feel safe to show up fully. We invited him to co-create his story with us, and he did a magnificent job of stepping out of his comfort zone and eventually he became like a co-director, choosing shots he liked and moments, sounds and images for us to focus on. He became our guide - not just to his life, but to his deep love of Kibera, and the young people who are often left to raise themselves and each other while their parents fight to survive. 

What was it like for you to make this film?

Samson's greatness is an introverted, quiet version. What made him such an amazing hero to follow was also what made the filmmaking process with him tricky. He connects great one-on-one, you can feel his realness and genuine heartfeltness. He is not very loud, or gregarious, and he has a lot on his mind that was distracting him and we were filming in a classroom with 150 young people yelling, crying and talking over each other. Because I've been conditioned to see heroes as these great, charismatic, declarative leaders, I felt nervous to center Samson as the anchor point for our entire story. But Amber really helped me consider why we, in the media, keep ignoring these quiet heroes and perpetuating the myth that there's only one kind of social justice warrior. We often tell the story of people who promise big things, which brings bold splashes of color to our stories, when the reality - especially in Nairobi - is dismal and entrenched. Samson, in contrast, doesn't fool himself into believing he's anyone's savior. As a result, when he does speak, the listener listens...and trusts. In our film, Samson serves up his own life story as a powerful example of the positive change expressive arts can have.

The high point has been the close relationship we've developed with Samson. It's been a great honor that Samson feels we did his story justice. We're proud to be changing the narrative around what different types of heroism can look like. The hard days, when Samson felt like slipping away, instead became days of connection. 

How do you feel about winning the Dan Eldon Award? 

We need more Dan Eldons. He was a bright light, buzzing with contagious energy and desire for connection, who led by example and his memory is continuing to remind us of why our work matters. You can hear it in the interviews with his sister and mother. When he died, he left no one doubting he was doing his dharma. When you find your path you have no choice but to be brave and to follow it wherever it takes you. Being a documentary filmmaker in an age when serial killer series and films about celebrities dominate the commercial landscape, and when national conversations are shaped by black-and-white thinking, making a career of this work can feel grueling, even subversive. We're seeking justice in our imaginations, and we need friends, who share that commitment. The allies we find along the way, who see us, and who reflect that back to us, make this work possible. Thank you to the MY HERO team, and to Kathy and Amy for keeping Dan's memory and legacy alive. 

Do you have personal heroes?

Our personal heroes are those who courageously challenge injustice, inspire resilience, and advocate for compassion in the face of adversity—people like Maya Angelou, who spoke truth through her words; Alice Walker, whose ideas, stories, and integrity have contributed to our values; and those within my community and the world who persist in the fight for equity and understanding.

Harambee Arts

In the heart of Kenya and across the globe, Harambee Arts is using the power of creative expression to help women and children recover from the devastating effects of trauma. Founded by Gloria Simoneaux, Harambee Arts embodies the spirit of its name—“Harambee” is a Kiswahili word meaning “Let’s pull together.” This sense of unity and shared strength lies at the core of the organization’s mission, as it brings art-based healing to individuals who have experienced violence, illness, poverty, human trafficking, and other crises.

At the heart of Harambee Arts is a unique approach to therapy: Expressive Art Therapy. Developed by Simoneaux, this method allows individuals to process deep emotional pain through creative expression. The process is both personal and communal, enabling participants to recover from trauma while also building a sense of connection with others facing similar challenges. The program operates on the belief that every person has the capacity to heal and help others, even after enduring significant hardship.

The Healing Power of Art

Harambee Arts is grounded in the belief that each individual is inherently whole, capable, and worthy of healing. Empathy and outreach are at the center of the program’s values. Art, in this context, is far more than a form of entertainment—it is a therapeutic tool that helps individuals build trust, form secure relationships, and process trauma. The act of creating art helps establish a secure base, a foundation of trust where participants can explore painful experiences and begin to heal.

One key component of the healing process is the sharing of personal stories. As participants create and share their artwork, they express feelings and experiences that are often too difficult to articulate in words. This act of storytelling, paired with active listening, becomes a form of therapy in itself. It allows individuals to feel seen, heard, and supported, which is crucial to the healing process.

The program also recognizes the universality of grief and loss. By creating a safe space where participants can explore these emotions, Harambee Arts helps individuals move through their pain in a healthy and constructive way. Through art, they learn to confront their emotions, embrace their stories, and, in doing so, create new possibilities for their future.

Art as a Path to Wellness

Creating art isn’t just an emotional or psychological experience—it also has tangible effects on the brain and nervous system. Through the creative process, participants stimulate new neural pathways, which can improve overall wellness and promote resilience. Harambee Arts also incorporates somatic awareness exercises to help individuals manage stress responses and regain balance after trauma. These exercises teach participants how to return to a state of resilience, whether they have experienced minor or severe trauma.

One of the most powerful aspects of Harambee Arts is its emphasis on presence and engagement. Creating art fosters a deep sense of awareness and mindfulness, allowing individuals to stay present in the moment and fully engage with their emotions. This presence is essential for healing, as it encourages participants to confront their trauma while also giving them the tools they need to move forward.

While Harambee Arts is deeply rooted in communities like Kibera, its vision extends far beyond the borders of Kenya. The organization has worked with marginalized populations worldwide, bringing its art-based healing model to individuals in Nepal, the United States, and elsewhere.

Harambee Arts treats each individual as whole, capable, and resilient. Empathy and connection are at the heart of the organization’s philosophy, and art is the tool that fosters trust and security, forming the foundation for healing relationships. Through art, participants are able to process grief, loss, and other painful experiences in a safe and supportive environment. As they create and share their stories, the act of being heard becomes a key element in their healing journey.

Ultimately, Harambee Arts is about more than just creating art; it is about fostering presence, connection, and the transformative power of self-expression in the face of adversity.

Find out more: www.harambeearts.org

About the MY HERO International Film Festival:

Thanks to generous sponsors, prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college, and professionals in a variety of categories including documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.

The festival aims to inspire audiences to recognize the heroism in their own lives and encourage positive actions in their communities. Learn more.

Join us in celebrating 20 years of The MY HERO International Film Festival on November 16, 6pm @ the Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School in Santa Monica, California. Find out more HERE.