“Amplify” earned a MarCom Awards Gold Award and a 2025 Davey Awards honor.
The Pasadena and Allegra Consulting Inc. have received national recognition for their documentary Amplify | Voices of People and Families Displaced by Freeway Construction in Pasadena, California, earning both a MarCom Awards Gold Award and a 2025 Davey Awards honor.
By News Desk
The 38-minute film, produced for the city, documents the lasting impact of freeway construction in Pasadena during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly tied to the development of the SR-710 Freeway and the Interstate 210. Through 32 oral histories combined with archival photographs and footage, the documentary captures firsthand accounts from residents and families who were displaced during the projects.
The film also highlights community landmarks that were lost due to construction, including the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Japanese Union Presbyterian Church, Green Buck Restaurant, Garfield School, and Valley Barber Shop. Despite the losses, the documentary emphasizes the resilience of the affected communities.
Two commemorative trophies were presented to the Pasadena City Council and the 710 Advisory Group, symbolizing the collaborative effort behind the project and recognizing those who contributed to its development.
Assistant City Manager Brenda Harvey-Williams praised the film’s emotional depth, noting that while historical data records the scale of destruction, personal stories reveal the profound human impact.
Suzanne Madison described the documentary as an effort in “truth-telling,” emphasizing its role in preserving lived experiences that might otherwise have been forgotten. She also acknowledged filmmaker Mayon Denton and his team for bringing those stories to life.
The documentary is part of the broader Reconnecting Pasadena initiative, which seeks to address the legacy of freeway construction in the city.
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