February 14, 2025 by Communications
Lone Star Legal Aid Partners with Texas Housers, HYLA, Beck Redden, and CCPPI for Film Screening & Legal Aid Event on Feb. 22, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 14, 2025
Media contact:
- Texas Housers – Michael Depland, michael@texashousing.org
- Lone Star Legal Aid – Clarissa Ayala, cayala@lonestarlegal.org
- Houston Young Lawyers Association – Cassie Maneen, cmaneen@beckredden.com
- CCPPI – Lorenzo Salinas, lorenzo.salinas@ccppi.org
HOUSTON, TX – Texas Housers, Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston Young Lawyers Association, Beck Redden, and CCPPI are hosting a public film screening and legal aid outreach event on Saturday, February 22nd, from 2-5 p.m. at One Emancipation Center (3131 Emancipation Ave, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77004).
The documentary “Razing Liberty Square” centers on a public housing development in Miami, whose land is being targeted for redevelopment into a mixed-income property. A discussion will follow the film, addressing how disasters affect the housing landscape of Houston, the effects of the redevelopment of public housing and historic low-income neighborhoods, and how communities can participate in the reimagination of their neighborhoods.
The film is 1 hour and 20 minutes. Doors open at 2 p.m., and the film screening will begin at 2:30 p.m. Spanish film subtitles and simultaneous interpretation will be available. Light refreshments will be served.
“Razing Liberty Square,” from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Katja Esson, premiered on PBS on January 29, 2024. The documentary captures an inside look at the struggle of the residents of the historically Black neighborhood as they fight to save their community. Texas Housers has collaborated with organizations across the state to hold locally supported film screenings to engage in community discussions that connect the local landscape of housing issues to the documentary experiences of the residents of Liberty Square.
“The film follows Liberty Square residents as they are tossed through relocation processes after their public housing development is sold to be torn down and rebuilt as a mixed-income property,” states Julia Orduña of Texas Housers. “When land becomes scarce and disasters intensify, those with the least are often the first displaced. Both Texas and Florida have seen housing shifts influenced by rapid urban growth, disaster recovery efforts, and economic redevelopment, making Houston a mirror image of climate gentrification in Miami.”
Now, housing advocates and concerned lawyers have united to screen the film in Houston and bridge the experiences in Miami to the realities of our own city.
Houston has already begun redeveloping low-income neighborhoods and public housing developments across the city. Residents should be at the center of these efforts, not an afterthought. That’s the difference between community development and gentrification. Liberty Square is a prime example of gentrification efforts at work.
“The issues raised in ‘Razing Liberty Square’ are not just a Miami problem—they are happening right here in Houston,” said Kim Brown Myles, Litigation Director of Lone Star Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Unit. “As rising housing costs and disaster recovery efforts reshape our city, many low-income residents face displacement with little legal recourse. At Lone Star Legal Aid, we work to ensure that tenants understand their rights to remain in place.”
Lone Star Legal Aid, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on helping low-income individuals overcome their civil legal issues, will be on-site to answer questions about tenants’ rights and offer legal assistance regarding public housing concerns.
Texas Housers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for fair and affordable housing for low-income Texans through research, policy work, and community empowerment.
Houston Young Lawyers Association (HYLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports young attorneys in Houston through professional development, networking, and community service initiatives.
Beck Redden is a Texas-based law firm known for its excellence in trial and appellate litigation, representing clients in complex civil disputes with a commitment to integrity and advocacy.
The Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement (CCPPI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on advancing equitable public policies that promote economic opportunity, housing stability, and community development in underserved areas.
Event Flyer: PDF and social media graphic.
About the Film:
When rising sea levels threaten the future of coastal dwellers in Miami, wealthy property owners seek to strike gold inland by developing the historically black community of Liberty Square. This alarming documentary explores how Liberty Square public housing community in Miami has become ground zero for climate gentrification.
