We are building this city, yet our stories are rarely told. From laying bricks to staffing hospitals, opening restaurants to raising families, Hispanics and Latinos are part of Baltimore’s heartbeat. But it took tragedy to make that visible. When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, six Hispanic and Latino workers — members of our communities — lost their lives. For a brief moment, the headlines remembered us. But what about every other day?
Even then, support fell short. The Baltimore Community Foundation raised over $16 million through its Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund which claims to strengthen “community resilience.” Yet, not a single dollar initially reached the bereaved families in our communities. It wasn’t until public scrutiny demanded accountability that $1.2 million was finally directed to the victims’ families. It shouldn’t take exposure and pressure for those who are building this city with their bare hands to receive the support they deserve.
That invisibility is what the documentary film, “We Are Baltimore,” seeks to address…