Stalking the American Life, which broadcast regionally on PBS in 2009, in collaboration with Kirsten Kelly, her partner at Spargel Productions. Suzanne Niemoth, Kartemquin Films Finance Title: Brian Gersten What is very inspiring about Roque's story is that one of his teachers, Maria Rivera, welcomes him into her house and includes him as part of her family. Problems Playing Video? Pierce Family Foundation Rachel Glass Each of these smart, ambitious teenagers - Kasey, Anthony and Roque - will surprise, inspire, and challenge audiences to rethink stereotypes of homelessness as they work to complete their education while facing the trauma of being alone and abandoned at an early age. Brad Lichtenstein LESS, Produced and Directed by Roque, the son of Hispanic immigrants, became homeless when his parents divorced. With unprecedented access into Chicago public schools, The Night Ministry “Crib” emergency youth shelter, and Teen Living Programs’ Belfort House, The Homestretchfollows these kids as they move through the milestones of high school while navigating a landscape of couch hopping, emergency shelters, transitional homes, street families, and a school system on the front lines of the homelessness crisis. View production, box office, & company info. She is a founding member of The Independent Theater Company, The Nevermore Theater Project, and Theaters Against War. Maybe a bit more compare-and-contrast, showing those who succeed against overwhelming odds while offering some insight about the many who many who fail to cope due to their abandonment by family and society, would have made the presentation more powerful.Definitely worth seeing and hopefully it will inspire many of us to do something about this shameful situation that exists in the richest country on earth. The film opens with one of the most startling facts: 19,000 kids are homeless in the city of Chicago, a bigger issue than anyone knew. It was upbeat and positive in its approach, revealing the devastating problem that exists but not dwelling on the hopelessness and despair that must certainly confront many children left to fend for themselves and it show us the many good people who struggle to offer them support with limited resources.The Chicago Public Schools have 19,000 children registered as being in "temporary living situations," which is a euphemism for "homeless." Teen Living Programs "The Homestretch": A Review by Olivia Okocha, The West Wing Returns for an HBO Max Special, Touring Masterworks: Adam Nayman Discusses His New Book on Paul Thomas Anderson, CIFF 2020: Black Perspectives Program Highlights Diverse Voices. The Homestretch The Homestretch is a documentary about homeless young people in Chicago. Sonic Highway Music & Sound, Assistant Editors The following review was written by Olivia Okocha, a Chicago high school student, as part of Columbia College Chicago's Columbia Links journalism program for high school students.