Over the past four years, UCLA's IDEA has supported students and parents from Los Angeles urban schools and communities in the production of short video documentaries about the conditions in LA's schools and communities. TCLA is proud to feature the best of these documentaries.

IN ORDER TO VIEW THE VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES BELOW YOU MUST HAVE QUICKTIME 6.5 OR ABOVE INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER!

Just the Way It Is: A Student Video Documentary (2002)
Produced by IDEA Summer Seminar researchers Diana Flores, Roger Lara, and Matthew Nzegwu.
This video created during the 2002 IDEA summer seminar reflects the conditions faced by many public school students, particularly those in poor and working class areas.


Medium Quality (9.8 MB)

High Quality (24 MB)

Parents Take Action: A Video Documentary (2002)
Produced by Parent-U-Turn
As part of the Parent U-Turn 's research, Mary Johnson, Emma Street, Valerie Muñoz and Angelita Andrade conducted a survey of Los Angeles parents at supermarkets and malls. The survey questioned parents on their involvement with their children’s schools and the quality of their child’s learning materials, teachers and facilities. This video celebrates the parents' willingness to take action.

Medium Quality (4.4 MB)

High Quality (9.7 MB)

Behind the Alameda Corridor (2003)
Produced by Parent-U-Turn
Parent activists from Lynwood and South Gate interviewed residents and civic leaders in and around South Gate, Lynwood, and Los Angeles about the historical racism and segregation behind the Alameda Corridor.

Medium Quality (13.3 MB)


High Quality (31.1 MB)

1954-1963: Public Education on Equal Terms (2003)
Produced by Brittany Cooper, Sylvia Naranjo, Lorie Nava, Eder Ortiz, Michelle Priester, Rangan Rangaraibharath
Did racial groups get along during the 50's? Through interviews with Los Angeles teachers, school officials and civic leaders, this documentary examines the topics of racial optimism, social racism vs. overt racism, and activism.

Medium Quality (9.9 MB)

1964-1973: The Struggle Takes to the Streets (2003)
Produced by Norma Aguilar, Genevieve Brown, Salomae Kpohanu, Ana Morales, and Alejandro Quintana
This video documents the experience of racism in Los Angeles schools and communities in the mid-60's. Topics include tracking in schools, the 1965 Watts rebellion, and the 1968 East LA Blowouts.

Medium Quality (8.5 MB)

High Quality (20.1 MB)

1974-1983: Did You Receive a Quality Education? (2003)
Produced by Norma Aguilar, Genevieve Brown, Salomae Kpohanu, Ana Morales, Alejandro Quintana

Former Los Angeles students discuss the quality of their education in Los Angeles schools.

Medium Quality (8.2 MB)

High Quality (20.1 MB)

1984-1993: The Quality of Education in Los Angeles (2003)
Produced by Alejandro Aldana, Patricia Alfaro, Veronica del Toro, Rahiley Gomez, Brenda Reyes, and Akamie Robinson

This video documentary takes a look at the effects of gangs, drugs, and social reproduction on students and their ability to gain access to a quality education.

Medium Quality (8.2 MB)


High Quality (21.6 MB)

1994-2003: 50 Years Post Brown (2003)
Produced by Emmanuel Aguiar, Alejandro Cuevas, Marelyn Hernandez, Andrea Patterson-Gerard, Miriam Perez, and Guadalupe Santillian

This video documentary asks, "why?," "Why are schools overcrowded?" and "Why do teachers lack credentials?".

Medium Quality (8.2 MB)

High Quality (21.6 MB)

East Los 213 (2004)
Produced by Carl Jackson, Jessyca Gilmore, Oscar Jiminez, Roxana Flores, Henry Espinoza, Denisse Budolla, and Bryon Perez (assisted by Rudy Duenas and Veronica Sena)
This video explores the culture of East Los Angeles, focusing on the political effect of art in this region of Los Angeles.

Medium Quality (13.7 MB)

High Quality (55.5 MB)

Power and Pedagogy for the People (2004)
Produced by Jenny Aguilar, Marco de la Torre, Whitney Reynolds, Francisco Romo, Tanyea Thomas
A look at the experiences of students living in the Crenshaw community and attending Crenshaw High School.

Medium Quality (23.3 MB)

High Quality (55.5 MB)

Watts Crackin' (2004)
Produced by Jeniffer Aguilar, Saul Antonio, Deion Barrientos, Daniel Cendejas, Ginna Dominguez, Jennifer Gonzalez, Stanley Settle II, Maribel Santiago, and Laurence Tan
Watts' Crackin is a study of the community of Watts through the lens of critical thinkers.

Medium Quality (19.7 MB)

High Quality (31.1 MB)

WeTP's Reading of West High (2004)
Produced by Gilbert Valle, Ryan Bell, Edrei Alas, and Roderick Piggee
Students and community members talk about their experiences of living and attending school in West Los Angeles.

Medium Quality (23.3 MB)

High Quality (55.5 MB)