TOLD THEY CAN’T from jGift films on Vimeo.
A Film Honoring the Human Potential of Every Child, No Matter Background or Family Income
“Told They Can’t” features the inspiring stories of high profile professionals of color, who come from families and backgrounds that aren’t considered ideal. Their parents (if they had family support) didn’t have access to an education, worked for low pay and had little or no hope for advancement in life.
During childhood their classroom and extra-curricular experiences likely included being placed in a group with those considered to be low achievers. They were overlooked, dismissed and marginalized. At home each faced extreme hardships that most audience members can’t imagine, including hunger, poverty, abuse, neglect, and worse. They were’t looked upon as tomorrow’s success stories. Yet somehow, each found a way to overcome their seemingly impossible problems. They now contribute mightily to society providing critical services including education, medicine, science, engineering and government leadership. Their example is bound to generate respect and powerfully inspire and motivate audience members of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to make their own lives and communities better.
The Film’s Subjects
- Ramon Resa, MD – Migrant Child Farm Laborer Who Became a Pediatrician
- Blanca E. Rubio – Undocumented Child ,Twice Deported – Elected to Leadership in the California State Assembly
- Raul Ruiz, MD – Migrant Child Farm Worker, Attended Harvard, Became an ER Doctor and U.S. Congressman
- Lisa Ramirez, Ed.D – Migrant Child Farm Laborer, to Author, Earned a Doctorate in Education to Leadership at the U.S. Dept of Education
- Tony Cardenas – Son of Immigrants, Became an Engineer and is a leader in the U.S. Congress
- Sharon-Quirk-Silva – Middle Child in a Large Family, First to College, Became a Teacher, Now California State Assemblywoman
- Esteban G. Burchard, MD, MPH – From SF Mission Barrio to Stanford, Harvard, to Health Advisor to President Obama, to UCSF Researcher
- Katherine Flores, MD – Migrant Child Farm Laborer to First Gen College, Became an MD and Medical Professor UCSF Fresno
- Jose Medina – The California Assembly Member – Author of New Ethnic Studies Law for K-12
- Fernando S. Mendoza, MD – Son of Mexican Immigrants – lived in a basement growing up, to Stanford, Harvard, Became a Pediatrician and Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford
- Eduardo Garcia – From San Bernardino Barrio, to UC Riverside, to Harvard, USC, to Elected Member of the California State Assembly
- Enrique Diaz – Undocumented child at 2 yrs old, to 6 year old Migrant Child Field Worker, to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, to Research and Development Scientist for Apple
The Film’s Lessons
- All may overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges, just as the individuals featured this film have.
- All can REFUSE to accept being told they can’t, even by those in authority. Dare to aspire to become all one possibly can, no limits.
- The human potential of all is an immutable universal truth. We as a culture can, and must, adopt a more inclusive appreciation for, and understanding of the human potential of all, not only the seemingly ideal candidates or just those who come from privileged, solid backgrounds, but all, no matter their background, ethnicity, or family income level.
- Pop culture values aren’t a true measure of human potential. Parents, school boards, administrators, teachers, staff and society at large must rethink and overhaul the flawed metrics being relied upon in deciding which students (persons) will and will not be successful in school (life). Society can’t afford to get this so wrong. How could those featured in this film been told they can’t, over and over?
- Take a fresh look at what is valued and who is admired in our culture and why. Move individuals like those featured in this film to the top of the list of those we want to be like. Follow their example.
The film intended for students, parents, educators, administrators and all who’ve been told they can’t.