Local, USA

Indie Films Series / 8 Seasons

Culled from public television stations and independent producers from across the country, LOCAL, USA is a half-hour series featuring fascinating stories of diverse people, curated around a single theme.

26m 49s / TV-PG

Fire Tender | Restorative Fire

1m 44s / TV-PG

In the U.S., fire is seen as destructive. But for Native tribes like the Yurok, it is essential to life. Margo Robbins explains how reclaiming fire and bringing it back to the land is a method of fire suppression known as controlled burning and also reignites the growth of plants that are used to create everyday items like baskets.

Fire Tender | The Native Practice of Controlled Burns

1m / TV-PG

The Weeks Act of 1911 was signed into law for the creation of national forests, protecting millions of acres of land and water. The Act set up a foundation for fighting forest fires but this meant Native tribes could no longer put fire to land to prevent wildfires and ensure plant growth. Now, the federal government is turning to people like Margo Robbins and their knowledge of controlled burns.

Fire Tender | Trailer

1m 10s / TV-PG

Yurok people have been putting fire on the land since time immemorial...but this practice has been disrupted by California settlers. Catastrophic fires in the West, however, has policymakers rethinking their commitment to fire suppression. FIRE TENDER shares the work of Margo Robbins, a Yurok knowledge keeper, seeking to return practices to Yurok territory, and to restore the land and its people.

Fire Tender | Preview

30s / TV-PG

Yurok people have been putting fire on the land since time immemorial...but this practice has been disrupted by California settlers. Catastrophic fires in the West, however, has policymakers rethinking their commitment to fire suppression. FIRE TENDER shares the work of Margo Robbins, a Yurok knowledge keeper, seeking to return practices to Yurok territory, and to restore the land and its people.

Minnesota's Alt-Meat Revolution | Burger Taste Test: Beef or Plant?

1m 14s / TV-PG

At The Rusty Duck Bar & Grill in Dawson, MN - the home of PURIS which processes yellow pea protein, they cater to hamburger lovers of both the meat and veggie kind. Co-owner Tom Beals and Mayor Randy Tensen are put to the test by host Amanda Anderson to see if these plant-based rookies can tell the difference between the two.

Minnesota's Alt-Meat Revolution | Crop Insurance

1m 22s / TV-PG

In the U.S., corn and soy are the top crop on farms because they are covered by federal insurance and therefore, protects farmers from a bad harvest. This leaves them little to no choice to grow other agricultural products needed in the country unless they are willing to financially bet on another crop like peas.

Minnesota's Alt-Meat Revolution | Henry Ford

36s / TV-PG

Although known as the founder of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford was also a vegetarian. Working with soybeans, he and scientist Robert Boyer invented a plastic car but also advocated and invented plant-based foods and products that changed the landscape of American diets and lifestyles.

Minnesota's Alt-Meat Revolution | Plant-Based Diet

50s / TV-PG

Fruits and vegetables? Yes. Plant-based foods? Maybe. Kelli Fernholz, a preschool teacher in Madison, WI who talks about nutrition in her class, shares why she prefers the former and not the latter. Even with all of the alt-meat choices available on grocery store shelves, the switch to a plant-based diet for most people isn't quite as easy a decision.

Minnesota's Alt-Meat Revolution | Pea Protein

47s / TV-PG

Why is the yellow split pea and its protein so small and mighty? Ask PURIS. The manufacturer behind pea protein powder discovered that its ingredient has many positives including being a complete source of protein, being allergen-free, and being vegan. Plant manager Matt Karels walks us, and host and producer Amanda Anderson, through the process and the diet upsides.

Minnesota's Alt-Meat Revolution | Preview

30s / TV-PG

As the demand for plant-based alternatives to meat grows, so does the demand for new methods of farming and food production. In Dawson, MN, “alt-meat” is not new - soybean processing dates back to the '50s. Now, PURIS, one of the largest manufacturers of pea protein, has moved in to revolutionize the agricultural system. What impact will it have on the town's residents and surrounding communities?

Minnesota's Alt-Meat Revolution | Trailer

1m / TV-PG

As the demand for plant-based alternatives to meat grows, so does the demand for new methods of farming and food production. In Dawson, MN, “alt-meat” is not new - soybean processing dates back to the '50s. Now, PURIS, one of the largest manufacturers of pea protein, has moved in to revolutionize the agricultural system. What impact will it have on the town's residents and surrounding communities?

HBCU Week: Tradition and Competition | Howard vs. Hampton

1m 2s / TV-PG

Who is the real HU? Students, staff and alumni talk about Howard University and Hampton University and their support for their respective school and all of the HBCUs. The two universities - one in Washington, D.C. and the other in Hampton, Virginia - share academic, athletic and Black excellence, and boasts alumni that are making an impactful presence in the country.

HBCU Week: Tradition and Competition | Trailer

54s / TV-PG

HBCU Week: TRADITION AND COMPETITION dives into HBCU football culture. Witness the rivalry of Hampton & Howard, a testament to tradition and spirit, and appreciate the intensity of an NC A&T vs. NC Central game, a match steeped in proximity and pride. The episode showcases the blend of camaraderie and competition that defines HBCU sports, highlighting their impact on African American communities.

HBCU Week: Tradition and Competition | Preview

30s / TV-PG

HBCU Week: TRADITION AND COMPETITION dives into HBCU football culture. Witness the rivalry of Hampton & Howard, a testament to tradition and spirit, and appreciate the intensity of an NC A&T vs. NC Central game, a match steeped in proximity and pride. The episode showcases the blend of camaraderie and competition that defines HBCU sports, highlighting their impact on African American communities.

HBCU Week: Beyond the Field | The CIAA

1m 11s / TV-PG

Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), along with Hakim J. Lucas, Brandon Scott and Wes Moore talk about what the CIAA is and its connection to Baltimore, Maryland. They also share what the athletic conference - in this case, the men's and women's basketball tournament - represents for HBCU students and alumni and Black Americans.

HBCU Week: Beyond the Field | Title IX

35s / TV-PG

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is more than just athletics. And HBCUs are more than just academics. Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. president of Virginia State University, talks about how the conference is a celebration and how, in 2022, they shined a light on Black women in sports, including CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams, during the 50th anniversary of Title IX.

HBCU Week: Beyond the Field | Grambling State and Southern

41s / TV-PG

Rick Gallot and Rani Whitfield examine American history and Black educators through their respective HBCUs, Grambing State University and Southern University. The Louisiana-based educational institutions share many things including alumni who are family and friends as Eric Dooley and Issac Greggs know all too well.

HBCU Week: Beyond the Field | Trailer

1m 16s / TV-PG

HBCU Week: BEYOND THE FIELD takes you inside the heart of HBCUs. Experience the CIAA in Maryland, a cornerstone of Black athletics history, and feel the electrifying atmosphere of Louisiana's Bayou Classic - an annual showdown between Grambling State and Southern University. The episode offers a unique look beyond sports, highlighting the culture, history, and community spirit that define HBCUs.

HBCU Week: Beyond the Field | Preview

30s / TV-PG

HBCU Week: BEYOND THE FIELD takes you inside the heart of HBCUs. Experience the CIAA in Maryland, a cornerstone of Black athletics history, and feel the electrifying atmosphere of Louisiana's Bayou Classic - an annual showdown between Grambling State and Southern University. The episode offers a unique look beyond sports, highlighting the culture, history, and community spirit that define HBCUs.

FIRSTHAND: Segregation | A Black Business in Lincoln Park

1m 31s / TV-PG

Rashad Bailey, the owner of Dinner and a Movie, is feeling the heat, not from the kitchen, but the neighborhood of Lincoln Park. Although the owner dealt with complaints - noise and fighting - from around the majority white community about his Black business, Bailey has had to respond to the police and the city, and been restricted in how to run his restaurant his own way.

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