This report was prepared and written by a team at the Center for Media & Social Impact. CMSI director Caty Borum Chattoo served as principal investigator. The report was written by David Conrad, CMSI postdoctoral researcher, and Lori Young, PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, with the tremendous support of three American University (AU) School of Communication researchers

We acknowledge the strong history of immigrant rights movements in the U.S. and build on the foundation of those that came before us in our examination of the undocumented youth movement of the 21st century. The report is unconventional in format. Written in first person plural (i.e. “we”), it is a composite narrative that reflects salient themes from life history interviews with study participants.

Documentary storytellers, impact producers, and engagement strategists were affected in countless ways, compelling new strategy lessons and approaches to their work. Documentaries with social impact goals were challenged to move beyond the legacy of physical screenings and community-based events to find audiences, spur dialogue, create partnerships, and forge movements in the virtual world.