Grassroots to the Grid

That's the question at the heart of Grassroots to the Grid, a 48-minute documentary we produced and directed for Community Energy Project. The film traces how Portland's frontline communities (historically shut out by redlining and left living in the city's least efficient homes) became the leaders of the local energy justice movement. The film features several nonprofit leaders as they share their story and impact on their communities—ranging from repairing a neighbor’s roof for better heating and cooling, to advocating for energy justice at the state capital.

The film also highlights these groups as the architects of the Portland Clean Energy Fund, a $200-million-per-year program built by those most impacted by climate change. This funding initiative is the first of its kind and demonstrates the incredible power of bringing new underrepresented voices to the table to create lasting generational change.

Creating a documentary.

Over the course of 11 months, our team planned, produced, filmed, and directed Grassroots to the Grid from the ground up.

We interviewed industry experts, academics, community advocates, and nonprofit leaders researching decades of history, and assembling archival footage and imagery to ground the story in Portland's past. Grassroots to the Grid was also collaboratively shot and edited with the help of Thor Slaughter, D.L. Watson, Taylor & Emily Morden, and features the voice talents of Brandon Miller as narrator.

The film premiered in Portland in May 2026, spotlighting the neighbors and advocates driving clean energy and climate action across the city. Stay tuned for updates regarding future screenings and events.