BuzzFeed Studios and actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery are partnering on “Saving the Neighborhood,” a new series examining the “existential threats” facing neighborhoods across America. Howery will serve as both the director and the series’s host.
The first season of “Saving the Neighborhood” examines the impact of environmental racism on Black and Brown communities across the U.S. – from Howery’s hometown of Chicago to the water crises in Jackson, Miss., and Flint, Mich., to toxic dumps and incinerators in New York and California. He will meet communities around the country fighting for environmental justice.
BuzzFeed Studios’ slate of unscripted initiatives include pop culture true crime (“The Rise and Fall of LulaRoe”), political docuseries (“Once Upon a Time in Londongrad”), reality and game show formats (“Snoop & Martha’s Very Tasty Halloween”). BuzzFeed Studios has also backed feature films like “EXmas” and “Puppy Love.”
Howery will also serve as executive producer of “Saving the Neighborhood.” The series was created by Sean Flax of Endless Roots, who serves as an executive producer on the project. Jordan Savage and Manny Alves of The Network Studios, and Norman Aladjem and Madeleine Buisseret (Mainstay Entertainment) are also executive producers. Paul Ricci and Richard Alan Reid serve as executive producers for BuzzFeed Studios.
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“From my hometown of Chicago to other cities impacted by environmental racism across the country, this is an issue that’s close to my heart, and one that I believe needs more attention,” said Howery. “We’re giving a platform to the activists on the ground who are making change happen and standing up for what’s right.”
“BuzzFeed Studios is thrilled to announce our latest unscripted project, ‘Saving the Neighborhood,’ which draws viewers to the intersection of environmentalism, community action, education and injustice” said Paul Ricci, head of unscripted at BuzzFeed Studios. “Building off the success of our slate of unscripted projects, ‘Saving the Neighborhood’ will engage BuzzFeed’s massive global audience and entertain and educate viewers from all walks of life.”
