Through Our Eyes

Alongside family members who care for and support them, three resilient kids grapple with the many challenges facing children of incarcerated parents. As his mother’s release date nears, Nnadji’s aunt worries about separating from the child she’s helped raise. Meanwhile, Eric shares his love of football with his dad from a distance, and Lyric experiences complex feelings in the wake of her father’s absence.

Two families contend with different climate-related crises. In Iowa, sisters Emma and Leo face the possibility of losing their family homestead after experiencing years of increasingly unpredictable weather that has made farming unsustainable. In Texas, Mariah and her family cope with the fallout of Hurricane Harvey, waiting out the rebuilding of their home in a cramped motel room.

Military children navigate unique challenges as their parents combat the emotional and physical impacts of deployment. Nine-year-old Gabby finds ways to give back while also facing fears about her dad's health following his deployment. Ten-year-old Terry, his older brother, and veteran parents work to help each other and members of their community navigate mental health issues. Nine-year-old Luther struggles to watch his Navy veteran dad cope with chronic pain.

In Los Angeles, three unhoused children and their parents seek refuge and share dreams of finding a place to call home. Skylar's family lives day-to-day in different motel rooms. Nicholas and his mother spend the summer in their car as they work to secure emergency housing. Victoria, the daughter of a housing rights activist, hopes her family will soon be able to put down real roots despite hostility from neighbors.