Making Sense of Place, Phoenix

In only half a century, Phoenix has expanded from a small desert town into the sixth largest city in the U.S. Through the eyes and voices of Phoenix residents, this film explores the interrelationships among individual choices, the democratic process and market forces in the region. The film seeks to educate and inspire citizens to engage in a better-informed civic dialogue about social equity, diversity, economic opportunity and environmental quality. Viewers learn about the tensions between growth, economic development and quality of life in downtown areas, local neighborhoods and surrounding regions. While Phoenix is the case study in this film, the personal stories and narrations about the forces that shape current growth patterns are applicable to many other cities and regions.

This documentary is a part of the Making Sense of Place series. Other titles in the series include Cleveland: Confronting Decline in an American City and Portland: Quest for the Livable City.