Archival Reflection #5: Revisiting The Power of Community

Community Service, which became The Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions in 2009, was founded in 1940 by Arthur Morgan. November 14th, 2020 marks our 80th anniversary! As part of our celebration of our 80th anniversary, we’ll be posting 7 archival reflections, as well as our vision for the future. This is the fifth post in this series.

In this interview, Executive Director Susan Jennings and Megan Bachman from the Yellow Springs News discuss Megan’s experience in Cuba during the production of the movie The Power of Community and her connection of what was going on in Cuba during the 90s and what is going on today in the United States due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The Power of Community was a film produced by Community Solutions and Directed by Faith Morgan. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope.

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