Q: Congratulations on YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The documentary’s topic is both sensitive and powerful. What made you realize it was time to tell this story now?

Thank you. I work in public health (inspections for schools and daycares), and I realized the stark differences in education, environmental factors, and ultimately how children learn... through zip codes. New York City is so vast in experiences however I could not ignore who gets the better end of the stick based on where you live in the city. There was one inspection that really let me set the film in motion—I was on the Lower East Side in the morning of the day preparing to enter a school, and I saw a young mother who was pregnant, struggling to get her toddler inside the classroom. She looked very disheveled and stressed. The question then became: well, if she can feel this... I wonder how her baby she’s carrying is feeling? What stress is she going through while trying to make ends meet, and how can that affect the child she’s forming? After that, I went home and did tons of research on my own neighborhood (The Bronx) and found out that we have the highest rates of maternal mortality in New York. That caused me to freeze and automatically get to work. 

Q: What has been the most resonant or important audience reaction that you’ve had from those who have seen this film?

Oh! The top two would be “we never knew this was happening! We live here and didn't even know?” Then the second reaction (from mothers who watched the film) was “oh, I had a similar situation... I knew it was bad but I didn’t know who to go to.” Both are heartbreaking.

Q: What was the most challenging part of filming? What was a pleasant surprise during the process?

The most challenging part was wanting to keep all the information the women told me. There was a wealth of knowledge, pain, revelation, and really deep insight that they have, and it was VERY challenging to see which parts would fit into a particular timeframe. Everyone was so gracious to share their experiences. I wanted every subject to express themselves and hold space for their experiences. The pleasant surprise during this process was the healing journey I was able to go on while making this documentary. I had a very life-changing medical episode during filming, and this process gave me insight into how I should be present in my own body. 

Q: Have you always been interested in documentary filmmaking? As a child, was there something that inspired you to want to tell stories?

ABSOLUTELY. As a child, I loved (obsessed over, actually) music documentaries and music videos. The original plan was to go to med school and be a doctor, but I could never knock the feeling of wanting to create. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a huge hero of mine, and I figured that if I wasn’t going to do medical school, how could I make films that inspired people or invited them into the world of others? It played out well. 

Q: How did your involvement with Harvard’s Media & Medicine program help you craft this story? What was the most important thing you learned during your participation?

Harvard Media and Medicine was a leap of faith for me. I went in with the story of environmental injustice and then I was paired with an incredible mentor—[filmmaker] Robb Moss. I told him that I have a passion for equity, and I want to share with the world what women in The Bronx go through. He said (and I laugh till this day sometimes due to me having zero experience in film), “ Ok, it’s achievable” and went right into telling me what I needed to make my film a reality. He didn’t question that I have never held a camera or had any formal training in film & media. He wanted to make sure that it was truthful, honest, and that whatever I had to say was felt through the screen. That’s what I carry with me into my other projects from this program—perseverance and staying the course to spread an impactful message in the media. 

Q: What is your dream for this documentary? What tangible outcome would you like to see put forth into the world as a response to this work?

My dream for this documentary is to keep the conversation going on how to provide change in The Bronx for birthing people. That could look like birthing centers in our borough, pre- & postnatal support for all families in the borough, especially the residents of lower socioeconomic status. I would also love this film to be a part of academic studies for public health and medical schools, and/or health-adjacent studies. I’d want the people who seek to help women, especially women of color, to know what their patients are facing before they reach them for care. 

Q: How does your background as a first-generation Jamaican American woman influence your storytelling process, both with this project and with other projects?

I’ve never got a [chance] to expound on this (thank you). Being a first-generation Jamaican American gives me a hyper sensitivity to storytelling—especially in these times. I have the privilege to see how being the child of an immigrant carries a responsibility of truth. My goal in life as an artist is to shed light on stories in this country that may have been swept away, whether by accident or intentionally. My intentional duality in storytelling helps me zone in on my approach in observation of people, the history of those people I interview and meet, and my connection to the story. 

Q: What is one thing you would like to see more of in the film and TV industry?

Music. I’d like there to be more music.  Music played a huge role in my film. There was a time when, for me growing up, the music was intentionally written for the film. Then, there were videos (music videos) in correlation to the film. Artists went the extra step to spread the message of what the audience spent time watching.  

Q: Is there a filmmaker or documentarian who inspires you, or a piece of media you think everyone should see?

Rungano Nyoni. Her film ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL is timeless. Then there’s Ryan Coogler, incredibly talented, and Kevin Macdonald. A piece of media I think everyone should see: SCENT OF A WOMAN.