"Agora: Six Stories of Resilience in Athens"
An In-Person Showing of a Documentary Co-directed by Samuel George '07
Networking/Welcome to Washington Reception Follows Program
In 2009, Greece suffered a massive financial crisis. Across the country, countless citizens lost their jobs, their homes, and in some cases, their hope. As the crisis dragged on, something remarkable happened: community organizations in Athens began to step in and fill the gaps in services the government could no longer afford.
From laundry for the homeless, to drug recovery programs, to new employment opportunities, this documentary tracks NGOs in Athens that organized to help their neighbors survive, ultimately teaching the government a few lessons along the way.
Join us for the DC premier screening of this Bertelsmann Foundation & GMF Film. After the screening, join directors Samuel George and Tony Silberfeld for a discussion of the film, followed by a happy hour reception on the roof deck patio where Obies can enjoy refreshments and greet fellow alumni, especially those new to the area.
Co-sponsored by the Oberlin Club of Washington, DC, the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Goethe-Institut Washington, DC.
Samuel George ’07 is the Bertelsmann Foundation’s Global Markets and Digital Advisor. Since joining the Bertelsmann Foundation in 2012, his work has focused on economics, politics, the digital revolution, and daily life with a specific emphasis on where these issues intersect. His multimedia approach features documentary film, animated video, and written analysis. Samuel’s documentaries bring viewers up close and personal to people and communities facing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, offering candid perspectives that allow viewers to draw their own conclusions. Samuel is currently completing a PhD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. At Oberlin, Samuel majored in History. He is also an officer in the Oberlin Club of Washington, DC.
Tony Silberfeld is the Director of Transatlantic Relations at the Bertelsmann Foundation. His research focuses on democratic innovations in cities, and geopolitical competition in space. Previously, he spent 7 years with the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where he was head of political and public affairs at the British Embassy’s Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington, DC. He also served as the Northern Ireland government spokesman in the Americas and advised government ministers on political developments in the United States, Canada and Brazil. Prior to his tenure with the British government, Tony held posts as a foreign policy advisor in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University.
