The PA League is happy to present a screening of Chris Ivey's documentary, “East of Liberty", Parts 1 and 2!

Where: The League Office, 6101 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

When: August 14, 2008, 6pm - 10pm, with a brief intermission

$5 suggested donation; Refreshments will be provided, and enjoy $2 bottles of beer from the Penn Brewery!


The “East of Liberty” documentary series serves as a vehicle for public dialogue in regards to the urban redevelopment happening in the East Liberty area. The film echoes not only nationwide sentiments in regards to gentrification fears, race and class relations but also internationally with the documentary series premiere in London last Spring with additional screenings planned this year in Berlin and Barcelona.

The "East of Liberty" series began in 2005 and focuses on the issues of race, class and fears about gentrification in and around East Liberty. The first chapter, "A Story of Good Intentions," premiered in December 2006 at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. It addressed the concerns over the displacement of the tenants from the three East Liberty high rises and gentrification resulting from the new EastSide Development bordering East Liberty and Shadyside. The second chapter, "The Fear of Us," also premiered at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in February 2008. This chapter focused on ongoing race, class and gentrification issues in the context of existing and new businesses in the East Liberty area, including Bakery Square, a new development which sits at the edge of Larimer at the old Nabisco site.

The purpose of the documentary series is to present the films in kind of a 'real time' format. To present the films while the process is still happening so that people in the communities can feel like they can some input into the developments that may be reshaping our neighborhoods back to the status before their decline in the 1970s.

The documentary series is also a recipient of  a Pittsburgh 250 grassroots award also was funded in part by the following:

The Falk Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, The Sprout Fund, The Multi-Cultural Arts Intiative, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Other Anonymous.