Crossroads Film Series:
The Great Green Wall
October 24th, 2023
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Portsmouth Public Library
175 Parrott Ave, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Join us for a captivating documentary screening of The Great Green Wall (2019), featuring Inna Modja's journey through the Sahel region of Africa, as she travels across the continent creating a musical album inspired by the Great Green Wall. Launched in 2007 by the African Union, the Great Green Wall is an ambitious effort to span almost 5,000 miles from Senegal to Djibouti with a 9 mile deep wall of trees. If completed, this would constitute the largest living structure on the planet and would help slow the desertification of the Sahel and Sahara.
"By 2050 there will be over 1 billion people (in Africa) under the age of 25," says Inna. "By restoring the land, can we create an African dream?"
A winner of 6 international film festival awards, this documentary shares the stories of the people living on the front lines of climate change and how they are fighting back. Inna Modja aims to raise awareness of this existential crisis for the people of these 22 countries, through her music and this film.
At the conclusion of the film, the audience will break into facilitated small group conversations lead by leaders of Education for All Children, Rain for the Sahel and Sahara, the League of Conservation Voters, and the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire. Each group will focus on different areas of the film and will spark lasting community conversations.
Sponsored By:


Steve and Karin Barndollar
Davis and Sukey Farmer
Susan and Phil von Hemert
Paul Barry
Promotional Partner:

Discussion Group Leaders:
The Sahel Region Discussion Group
Katherine Kolios - Katherine’s experience spans education, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, and malaria prevention. She joined RAIN in 2017 having lived, worked, and studied in Francophone communities throughout Africa, South America, and Europe. Katherine has experience working in the field and in headquarters of organizations large and small.
Storytelling Discussion Group -

Matt Gianino - Matt has worked with nonprofits in NH for over 20 years and currently serves as the Executive Director of EFAC (Education For All Children). Matt's career has been immersed in implementing strategies that allow organizations to do their best work with an emphasis on community engagement, data-driven decision-making, and maximizing impact. He particularly appreciates how strategic planning, nurturing relationships, and strengthening brand can be transformative for organizations addressing social justice issues.
Global Cooperation to Solve Issues Discussion Group-
Tim Horgan - Tim started his career with the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire in November of 2009 as an AmeriCorps member. During his year of service, he took on the international visitor exchange programs and was able to grow the grant to a point where the Council could hire him full time. For the next eight years, Tim continued to run, grow, and expand the quality and breadth of these exchanges, peaking at over 350 visitors hosted in one year. In 2018, Tim took over the role of executive director of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire. Under his leadership, the Council has continued its growth and professionalization of its efforts. He successfully led the organization through the pandemic, pioneering virtual programming and implementing new initiatives.