One tiny town encapsulates the cultural change in America

In creating her new company, The Futuro Media Group, longtime journalist Maria Hinojosa wanted to keep making a difference.

She has spent her career covering issues ranging from immigration and deportation to political issues for news outlets such as CNN, CBS and NPR. When she got the opportunity to create her latest project, “America by the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa,” it was something she couldn’t pass up.

“I wanted to continue to give Latinos a voice,” she explains. “With this being an election year, the topic of the first episode is timely and important.”

	If you go WHAT: “America by the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa” WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 WHERE: Bank of America Theater, National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 Fourth SW HOW MUCH: Free. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis

The TV series’ first episode takes place in Clarkston, Ga., and is premiering as a “Need to Know Election 2012″ special for PBS.

In the episode, Hinojosa and crew travel to Clarkston, which is one of the most surprisingly diverse communities in the nation. The town just outside of Atlanta has 7,500 residents and was 90 percent Anglo in the 1980s. Today, it’s less than 14 percent Anglo and there are residents from more than 40 countries, who speak more than 60 languages and dialects.

“This first subject represents our mission to do in-depth reporting on the new American mainstream,” she says. “If you look what has happened through our country you can see the demographic change. The numbers don’t lie, and we can see that our country is going through a major transformation.”

Hinojosa will be in the Duke City to speak about the episode after the screening from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Bank of America Theater at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

“I came to Clarkston because this city is a laboratory for the future of America. I wanted to see what democracy means to some of the newest Americans in this election year,” she says. “The program puts a human face on the demographic changes in the United States and explores how the rising multicultural population is influencing our culture and society.”

Hinojosa says the goal of the program is to tell the stories of the people and the relationships that they build.

“It’s revealing of the organic diversity that we’re already living and we understand what change can bring and we address those fears,” she explains. “It comes from a very human place, and that’s what I think my reporting in my career has done.”

As for coming back to Albuquerque, Hinojosa says she’s excited to get back to host this talk.

“I’ve reported out of New Mexico and this is the first time that my company is producing an event like this,” she explains. “I have very fond memories of the city and state and I want to engage some dialogue with the group.”

FILM SHOWCASE: For the eighth year, the New Mexico Film Office will host the “New Mexico Filmmakers Showcase” from Friday, Oct. 12, through Oct. 14 at the Guild Cinema. During the three-day event, there will be 37 films screening in various categories such as comedy, documentary, drama, experimental, music, horror, short and wild card.

Dirk Norris, the outreach programs coordinator at the film office, says the showcase normally would take place in May, but got pushed back this year.

“Although the event is later this year, we still did have a number of filmmakers enter the showcase,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity for filmmakers to get some exposure for their movies.”

As in previous years, the showcase will be free and the winners’ movies will be taken on a tour around New Mexico and shown to the residents who weren’t able to attend the Albuquerque showcase.

“The quality of films continues to grow in the showcase and it’s important that we give the opportunity for New Mexicans to see it,” he explains. “I was able to watch last year’s showcase when it came to Lincoln County and was impressed with the work.”

Norris hopes to reach out to more filmmakers around the state for upcoming showcases. He says while there was a great response for it, the majority of the films are from Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

“I know that there are great filmmakers around the entire state,” he explains. “I’ll also look at trying a showcase aimed at middle and high school students, so that they aren’t judged against the professionals. I feel that the showcase could grow into a lot more. It’s still in its infancy as far as showcases go.”

For more information on screening times, visit www.nmfilm.com.

SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter at @agomezART.