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OLEAN In an era of fake news accusations, a group of local progressives are hoping to separate fact from fiction with a film series about issues that cause plenty of debate in the American political landscape.

Citizens Action Network of Southwestern New York plans to show four documentaries this summer that delve into topics such as health care, the environment, voting rights and refugees. The local group, which formed in response to Donald Trumps presidential election victory, also plans to feature a panel of local experts for each film.

I think all the issues being addressed in the films are topics in which a lot of people strongly have either positive or negative feelings and where often the conversations are based on inadequate or entirely false information, said Chris Stanley, a Citizens Action Network organizer and St. Bonaventure University theology professor. And so the idea is to have films where experts who are involved in the issues are presenting facts and data in order to perhaps promote more intelligent conversations and more informed political actions on the issues.

The first film, Now Is the Time, which explains a single-payer health care system and why some feel it is the cheapest and most effective way to deliver medical care in the U.S., will be presented at 7 p.m. July 20 at the African American Center for Cultural Development.

A single-payer health care system is a system in which a public agency like the federal government provides financing for health care, but the care is still provided by private agencies, and all residents receive coverage regardless of income, occupation or health status.

After the film, Upper Allegheny Health System President and CEO Tim Finan, Olean Medical Group CEO Dan Strauch and Athena Godet-Calogeras, chairperson of the Health Care Access Coalition, will speak briefly about a single-payer system and answer questions from the audience.

Wed like to hope that people ... will attend the film and ask the actual medical professionals about what they think is going to work best rather than simply listening to politicians, Stanley said.

Finan, Strauch and Godet-Calogeras participation on the panel doesnt necessarily mean they support a single-payer system, Stanley said, adding he didnt ask them for their opinions when inviting them to the screening.

Were intentionally trying to line up diverse respondents to our films, not necessarily people who will agree with everything thats being said in the films, so that we can promote some honest conversation about issues rather than simply promoting one point of view or one agenda, he said.

The event is free, but audience members can contribute toward the screening costs if they wish. The screening is co-sponsored by the Health Care Access Coalition.

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The other three films, which will address the environment, voting rights and Syrian refugees, respectively, will be shown at two-week intervals after the first screening. Citizens Action Network of Southwestern New York will announce more details about the films at a later date.

The African American Center for Cultural Development is located at 1801 W. State St.

(Contact reporter Tom Dinki at tdinki@oleantimesherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @tomdinki)

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Olean progressives to hold film series - Olean Times Herald