Four New Yorkers who overcame poverty and systemic obstacles in pursuit of higher education are the focus of “American Nightmare/American Dream,” a documentary screening Sunday, March 2, at Stissing Center in Pine Plains.
Directed by Diana Devlin and Grace Zinnel, the film follows Shawnta Alston, Rebecca Daverin, Leyla Martinez, and Hirah Mir as they navigate challenges including food insecurity, domestic violence, mental illness and incarceration. For each of them, higher education proved to be the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Their stories illustrate the power of knowledge as a tool for change. Following the screening, Devlin and two of the film’s subjects will lead a discussion on access to higher education and career training.
Rebecca Daverin, one of the film’s subjects, spoke to the Herald during a phone call from a siren-laden sidewalk in New York City. Now in law school, she reflected on the experience of being filmed while earning her bachelor’s degree and navigating her early career in education. “It was an interesting experience because it’s been 10 years of my life,” she said. “It’s also interesting to watch my life evolve on screen because of the impact it can have on students.” She hopes the documentary will resonate with young people.
“I think what’s really great about the film is that students get to see people with all different identities, people of color, people who are gay, and hopefully see themselves, and see that regardless of any sort of socioeconomic parameters or barriers or limitations with education, anything is possible,” Daverin said. “The documentary shows that nearly 95% of people who access education are able to move out of poverty permanently. So the real goal is just for kids to see that. I know that college is not for everyone, but really, everybody deserves to earn a livable wage, and for so many people, college is the way to do that.”
Shawnta Alston, another one of the film’s subjects, grew up in Queens. Despite living in poverty and facing systemic obstacles, her mother insisted Alston follow her dreams and pursue higher education. In 2015 that dream became a reality when Alston graduated as a SEEK Honors student at Hunter College. Now a school safety officer with the New York Police Department, she supports students by making them aware of the impact of policy, encouraging them to apply for financial aid or Pell Grants, and informing them of their rights.
“I work around bright individuals every day, so I try to give them the wisdom and the knowledge to know that education is the key out of poverty,” Alston told the Herald.
She also uses poetry as a tool for empowerment. Known by her stage name “LA Paparazzi,” she hopes to inspire young people with both her words and her own journey. “Our students are not really thinking about the future — they’re just thinking about the now,” Alston said. “They just need a little motivation and a little push and also a positive environment. They need to be around positive people that help them grow like trees.”
For director Diana Devlin, the film was a decade in the making. After moving from the Upper West Side to Rhinebeck, she began volunteering at Hunter College, where she met students whose pursuit of higher education began while they were on public assistance. Their resilience inspired her to tell their stories in film.
The documentary has screened at Upstate Films, the Albany Film Festival, and various community centers in New York. It has received an Award of Recognition from Impact DOCS and was an official selection of the Berlin Women Film Cinema Festival.
“This isn’t just about college — it’s about making sure students finish high school, know their options, and understand that they have a path to financial security,” Devlin said. “That’s why we always emphasize that the best way out of poverty is through career training or college. Career training is amazing at all of the SUNY colleges. I mean, Dutchess Community College has a new mechatronics lab, a multimillion-dollar lab. You can learn everything.”
As part of the film’s outreach, Devlin and her team have given away tickets to high school students in Pine Plains and Poughkeepsie, hoping to inspire them through real-life examples of perseverance.
“We want these students to see what’s possible,” she said. “The women in this film didn’t just earn degrees — they changed their lives, and now they’re giving back to their communities.”
The screening at Stissing Center will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, followed by a Q&A session with Devlin and two of the film’s subjects. Tickets are $10, with financial assistance available for those who need it. They are available online.
Thank you New Pine Plains Herald. Patrick, excellent reporting and writing. This is a superb and important documentary.