Press Release
July 23 2019
America ReFramed: 'Councilwoman' | Press Kit | English
Overview
“Here’s an Immigrant Story You Probably Haven’t Seen Before” — Rosa Heyman, Cosmopolitan.com
Brooklyn, NY (July 23, 2019) – A film about a full-time hotel housekeeper serving her first-term as a city councilwoman in Providence, Rhode Island, is headed to public television. Margo Guernsey’s Councilwoman follows Carmen Castillo, an immigrant who advocates for the working families in her community, many of who work multiple jobs to stay afloat. The film is part of America ReFramed, the award-winning documentary program by American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) and WORLD Channel that gives voice to the voiceless across the country, and airs at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 3, on WORLD, during Labor Day week.
In Councilwoman, audiences get an intimate look at the life of Castillo, who came to the U.S. in 1994 from the Dominican Republic with three daughters in tow, and who believes that working families should earn a wage sufficient to allow them to live with dignity. In her quest for workers’ rights she leads the charge in Providence, Rhode Island, for the “Fight for $15” — the movement to have minimum wage increased to $15 per hour. She runs a grueling reelection campaign — going door-to-door to get out the vote, attending fundraisers, meeting with community members and leaders — all while working at the hotel and in City Hall, maintaining a family, and helping her new husband adjust to life in the U.S. Through it all, Castillo stays true to her vision for justice and equity to prove that “she can do it!” But will she succeed?
The documentary aims to inspire and empower new leadership that is more representative of America—along gender, ethnic and economic lines—so as to create a richer democracy.
“Carmen Castillo’s commitment to supporting working families as embodied throughout Councilwoman is exhibited through both her actions and campaign to make impactful change in her community,” said Chris Hastings, executive producer & editorial manager for WORLD Channel at WGBH Boston. “Castillo forms part of a new wave of political activation, proving that more reflective and inclusive representation in government is possible,” commented Justine Nagan, executive producer& executive director of American Documentary.
Councilwoman will premiere on U.S. television and online at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CT / 9 p.m. PT) Tuesday, September 3 on WORLD Channel as part of the latest seasonof America ReFramed. The film will stream on worldchannel.org, amdoc.org and all station-branded PBS platforms including PBS.org, and on PBS apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast.
Councilwoman is a co-production of Independent Television Service (ITVS).