"Dayton's Darkest Summer: The Rise from Tragedy" University of Dayton Media Production Documentary

"Natural disasters and tragedies happen every year and have the potential to impact and affect families, communities, and cities tremendously. During the summer of 2019, Dayton, Ohio faced multiple tornadoes ravaging the city and a mass shooting in the span of 68 days. The media production students at the University of Dayton have created a documentary that aims to share the impact the tornadoes and mass shooting had on the city, how the city is recovering from these traumatic events, as well as sharing the stories of survivors, witnesses, and those who lost loved ones during these tragic events.

Dayton's Darkest Summer: The Rise from Tragedy seeks to put a spotlight on the people and the city of Dayton, the recovery efforts that have been put in place, and its resiliency through these trials and tribulations. This documentary also seeks to change the narrative of the city of Dayton from becoming known as a city that survived a mass shooting. Through both interviews with the survivors and experts on subjects such as tornado formation and PTSD, our documentary examines in great detail the effects that tornadoes and mass shootings can have and how difficult the recovery process can be. Hearing the stories of survivors and those affected by these tragedies will help the audience have a better understanding of what it is like to go through these tragedies, surviving them, and the lingering mental and psychological effects that follow as well.

Our documentary aims to shed a new light on the city of Dayton as a city of resilience, as well as raise awareness for other cities and communities that have gone through, and are still recovering from these tragedies alike. Anyone could become a victim of a natural disaster or a mass shooting, and it is important that communities and cities, like Dayton, to rally together to combat difficult times and return back to normal. Because, recovery is a process, and like healing it takes time."