Rebuild Community in Newark - Inspired by Brick City

"Donate a Brick", inspired by Sundance Channel's documentary series BRICK CITY seeks to give individuals a chance to give back and make a difference in their community.

"Donate a Brick", inspired by Sundance Channel's documentary series BRICK CITY seeks to give individuals a chance to give back and make a difference in their community.

BRICK CITY (aka Newark, NJ) is a city facing immense challenges but through their resilient community leaders, civil servants and life-long residents are committed to making their community a better, safer place to live. The Sundance Channel documentary series BRICK CITY is the inspiration to bring national attention to a national issue.

Created and directed by the award-winning filmmakers Mark Benjamin and Marc Levin, BRICK CITY, is a five-part documentary series that fans out around the city of Newark, New Jersey to capture the daily drama of a community striving to become a better, safer, stronger place to live. Against great odds, Newark's citizens and its Mayor, Cory A. Booker, fight to raise the city out of nearly a half century of violence, poverty and corruption. In the five one-hour episodes of BRICK CITY the lives of Mayor Booker, citizens on the front lines, and key figures re-making the city – from developers to gang members and youth mentors - intertwine in a portrait of a city at a critical moment in history.

Newark, New Jersey is known as "Brick City" for its architectural style, urban strength and human resilience. The city has consistently been a battlefield of high stakes drama, and in the wake of the riots and rebellion that exploded in 1967, it became a symbol of American urban decline. Filmed in the second full year of Mayor Booker's administration, BRICK CITY follows the Mayor and member of his administration and average Newarkers who are engaged in the complex, difficult and essential work of urban renewal.

BRICK CITY is executive produced and directed by acclaimed filmmakers Marc Levin (SLAM, GANG WAR: BANGIN IN LITTLE ROCK and STREET TIMES); and Mark Benjamin (THE LAST PARTY, JAILS HOSPITALS AND HIP-HOP). Academy Award®-winning actor and filmmaker Forest Whitaker also executive produces.

1. Starting with the Newark, NJ chapter and spreading across the US "Donate a Brick" raises funds to support Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide

2. Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark's mission is to provide opportunities to youth that empower them to succeed and excel

3. Sundance Channel will support the "Donate A Brick" initiative by matching donations up to $10,000.

4. www.bgcn.org