Housing the Focus of Film, ‘A Place of Our Own’

A Place of Our Own interview participant Emily Johnson (left), addresses the audience at the May 5 premiere. Photo by Thomas Toerpe.

Ellison Bay resident Emily Johnson expressed her frustrations about Door County housing in A Place of Our Own: The Challenge of “Home” in Door County, which premiered May 5.

“My feelings on the housing search? It’s extremely frustrating,” Johnson said. “I love the community I live in; I love the people in the community. I want to live here. I want to help my community grow, and I want to start a future here … It’s hard to start somewhere when you have nowhere to start.”

Eight other local residents – whose stories also appear in A Place of Our Own – echo Johnson’s frustrations.

The Interfaith Prosperity Coalition, a partnership of local congregations and nonprofits committed to gaining access to affordable housing, sponsored the interview project. Its two parts – a 20-minute video and a set of traveling banners – are available to congregations, organizations and libraries that seek to spread the film’s message of frustration, persistence and hope.

A Place of Our Own will also be screened May 21 at the Old Village Hall in Sister Bay, May 29 at the Sturgeon Bay High School auditorium, and May 30 at the Southern Door High School auditorium. All events start at 6:30 pm and are free and open to the public.To learn more about the Interfaith Prosperity Coalition or schedule a showing of A Place of Our Own, email [email protected].