Growing up, East Providence native Theresa Moore always felt marginalized audiences, such as women or people of color, were left out of her lessons in school or from the various forms of media she consumed.
But as the country has become more diverse, organizations such as schools and companies have found themselves searching for ways to implement strategies and programs that not only focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, but also resonate with modern society.
Moore’s production company, T-Time Productions, is now on a mission to fill this gap by producing stories through a different lens and a different medium.
The company has begun to roll out a portfolio of stories focusing on the advancement of civil rights through stories in sports that often fly under the radar.
“You don’t necessarily have to be an athlete to appreciate a good story.”
One example is a documentary called “Third and Long." It examines civil rights and racial integration in the U.S. through the prism of pro football, which, compared to baseball’s battle with racism and the story of Jackie Robinson, has received far less attention.
The documentary initially aired on CBS in 2011, but Moore, a former executive at ESPN, wanted to push past traditional media to better reach new generations and expanded “Third and Long” into an interactive, educational app meant to be used in schools.
“Educators have not been consistently trained, if at all, as to how to bring culturally relevant education into the classroom,” Moore told Rhode Island Inno. “We are incorporating different ways to deliver content, because we have realized that students learn in different ways and also need to see themselves reflected and represented in curriculum.”
The app incorporates video, infographics, photo galleries and questions for the students to help communicate the stories to users. Moore said the app has data analytics built into the backend so teachers can assess students’ understanding.
She also said she has begun working with students from the New England Institute of Technology to help add gamification components into the app.
Last year, T-Time Productions received a $30,000 Innovation Voucher from the state for its unique approach, and the company is currently pursuing new stories.
Moore said the next app would examine busing desegregation and the riots that ensued through the eyes of the Boston Celtics, who were NBA champions in 1974, the same year desegregation at Boston schools began.
“Different players from the Celtics are interviewed about the challenges of being in Boston as busing was being implemented in the city and racial tensions were high,” said Moore. “You don’t necessarily have to be an athlete or have played a particular sport to appreciate and engage with a good sports story.”
Moore said she has received good qualitative feedback on the apps, and would like to roll them out nationally for public and charter schools, as well as offer an individual subscription to interested parents.
She has even begun to field some interest from investors and publishing houses.
“We really want to see this idea come to full fruition, where our portfolio does a deep dive on content, but also changes the current status of textbooks and the curriculum to make them more inclusive and more diverse,” said Moore. “Or [see if] ... someone like me [can] become the next Netflix to Blockbuster, where we change the way teachers source content relative to their students.”
Editor’s Note: T-Time Productions is a Rhode Island Inno 50 on Fire finalist. Read the whole story on the awards event here.
