Among the things I value most about being part of a community on Substack are meeting inspirational people, being exposed to ideas and projects that resonate with me and being able to share them with others.
It felt like a privilege when Kelly Hargreaves of First Run Features shared the documentary Changing Lanes with me prerelease. And it brought all of the treads together about why Substack matters as medium for community-led change.
Having had the chance to watch the documentary it’s heart, soul and sense of purpose. It is factual and has intellectual depth.
Featuring David Byrne and Janette Sadik-Khan, Changing Lanes
investigates why our streets are designed the way they are, and what it will take to make them safer and more livable.
Its strengths are both that it is very specifically set in New York and that its themes and are universal. Many communities face these challenges and can draw both inspiration and practical approaches from the resilience and dedication featured.
When a beloved teacher is tragically killed in a hit-and-run crash in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a grassroots movement emerges to transform a notoriously dangerous four-lane boulevard into a safer, two-lane street with protected bike lanes.
While many applaud the proposed change, it also sparks a backlash, led in part by a powerful local business owner. As government support begins to waver, neighbours unite to challenge entrenched interests and fight for a safer Greenpoint.
Changing Lanes situates this local struggle within broader historical, environmental, political, and social contexts through interviews with politicians, activists, urban planners, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons including musician David Byrne and legendary urban planner Janette Sadik-Khan, a compelling call to action for democracy at street level.
I’m working with Kelly to bring the film and its lessons to Creating Communities building up to its premiere in Los Angeles on 10th April 2026. I’ll share more as we go forward.
Footnotes
Changing Lanes opens in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the Laemmle Royal. It will also screen at the Laemmle’s Glendale, Monica, and Town Center theaters. Filmmaker Ben Wolf will appear in person with special guests for post-screening Q&A’s on Thursday, April 16th (Royal), Saturday, April 18th (Glendale), and Monday, April 20th (Monica).
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I promote the Action Learning Questions method to address complex challenges with potentially multiple answers.
Full disclosure we benefit from community members joining the Action Learning Facilitator Accreditation (ALFA) Post-Graduate Certificate with York St. John University. This helps our channel.
My latest book, Delivering Social Value in Urban Development, a collected series of essays, is published through Kindle Direct Publishing and available on most Amazon portals.
Please also check out our Concepts, Case Studies and Tools for Program Managers, Urban Planners, Policy Makers and Communities on Gumroad.
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