a good neighbor
Join us for a discussion with Lucy Molina and Councilwoman Kristi Douglas
Watch the film at home before the discussion!
Available with university login through Auraria Library Here.
September 17
3:30pm
CAVEA Theater (890 Auraria Pkwy, Room 420)
A Good Neighbor is a feature-length documentary about Lucy Molina, a Latina single mother fighting against racism and climate change as she campaigns for city council in one of the nation's most polluted zip codes. The film begins with Lucy in the car, giving one of her famous "Toxic Tours" of the 80216 zip code - named the most polluted zip code in America in 2018. As she drives by factories, highways, and the looming oil refinery - she speaks tearfully and candidly about her children's illnesses. "I moved here because of that park for my kids" she says at one point, "I didn't realize I was killing them." Lucy's family health struggles - leukemia, brain cancer, migraines, bloody noses, diabetes - combined with inaction from her local government, motivated her to run for city council. The film follows Lucy's campaign, using community events and campaign speeches as jumping off points to discuss larger issues such as racism, sacrifice zones, climate policy, health bias, and just transition. The doc culminates in a nail-biting finale as Lucy's family and friends gather on election night to see the results. But whether she wins or not, Lucy's intimate story highlights a global need for change, and creates empathy by putting a face to the realities of marginalized communities like Commerce City, Colorado.
This event is free and open to the public.
Co-sponsored by the MSU Denver Departments of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Political Science, Film and Media Studies, Political Science, and Chicano Studies, Auraria Library, and MSU Denver's Hispanic Serving Institution Celebratory Week
cat on a hot tin roof
Join us after the performance for a discussion with scholars and the cast!
October 16
7:00pm
Kilstrom Theatre (MAP)
Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama unfolds one sweltering Mississippi night on the Pollitt family estate, where three generations reunite to celebrate Big Daddy’s birthday. As speculation about Big Daddy’s health simmers just beneath the festivities, rivalries for his favor and the family fortune heat up. Determined to come out on top, Maggie struggles to get her troubled husband Brick to fall in line as they dance around the secrets and sexual tensions that threaten to destroy their marriage.
As the sun sets and the veneer of Southern gentility slips away, family betrayals and unburied truths leave no one unscathed. Raw, turbulent, and riveting from start to finish, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a bona fide American classic that you simply can’t afford to miss.
This event is free, but RSVP is required
email Dphi@msudenver.edu to reserve your seat.
denver film festival
Join us for discussions with scholars, directors, and cast members!
Oct. 31 - Nov. 9, 2025
Film selections and discussion topics coming soon!
This event is free, but RSVP is required
email Dphi@msudenver.edu to reserve your ticket
Our Team
Founding Director
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
Adam J. Graves, PhD, is a philosopher, filmmaker, and founding Director of the Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry at MSU Denver, where he is also Professor in the Department of Philosophy. As the Director of Dphi, Adam has organized and moderated hundreds of events on a wide range of subjects, for a diverse range of audiences and at
Adam J. Graves, PhD, is a philosopher, filmmaker, and founding Director of the Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry at MSU Denver, where he is also Professor in the Department of Philosophy. As the Director of Dphi, Adam has organized and moderated hundreds of events on a wide range of subjects, for a diverse range of audiences and at a variety venues, including the Denver Film Festival, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Sie Film Center, Alliance Française, and the Denver Art Museum.
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
Gabriel Grinsteiner loves collaboration, technology, and the humanities. He holds a degree in Computational Linguistics and is completing a graduate degree in Business Analytics. He has been a core member of the Dphi team since the project's inception in 2016, where he leads business process development and supervises Dphi's employees. He
Gabriel Grinsteiner loves collaboration, technology, and the humanities. He holds a degree in Computational Linguistics and is completing a graduate degree in Business Analytics. He has been a core member of the Dphi team since the project's inception in 2016, where he leads business process development and supervises Dphi's employees. He serves as senator for MSU Denver's 900+ staff, and coordinator of the American Democracy Project on Auraria Campus.
Advisory Board
Assistant Director
Advisory Board
MSU Denver faculty help to facilitate connections between the university and likeminded cultural institutions throughout the city. Our core team of faculty advisors includes:
Jean François Duclos (Modern Languages)
David Farrell (Music)
Megan Hughes (Honors)
Matthew Makley (History)
Craig Svonkin (English)