Mill Creek Valley Oral History Documentary
Before the Voices Are Gone: The Mill Creek Valley Oral History Project
Your charitable contribution directly supports the film’s creation, public screenings, and community engagement.
A Story That Can't Wait
Imagine waking up one day to find your neighborhood gone. Not just the houses, but the laughter echoing from porches, the smell of Sunday dinners after church, the corner store where you bought Vess soda and penny candy. Erased. This is the story of Mill Creek Valley in St. Louis, once home to over 20,000 Black residents whose lives were uprooted in 1959 under the name of "urban renewal."
But Mill Creek didn’t disappear. It lives on in the hearts of those who called it home. Their voices carry stories of resilience, community, and love—but those voices are fading. The people who can tell these stories firsthand are now between 75 and 92 years old. And Vivian Gibson, author of The Last Children of Mill Creek and a former resident herself, turns 76 this month. Vivian knows these stories because she lived them. She is leading this project, but time is not on our side.
Why This Film Matters
This documentary isn’t just about preserving history—it’s about reclaiming it. For too long, Mill Creek's story has been buried under concrete and silence. This film will bring it back to life through:
Intimate interviews with former residents who remember what the maps have forgotten.
Powerful archival footage that stitches together the fabric of a lost neighborhood.
Stirring reenactments that let us walk the streets of Mill Creek once more.
How Ozark Vitality Fits In
Ozark Vitality is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving local histories and fostering connections across The Ozarks. As a fundraising partner and Associate Producer for the Mill Creek documentary, we will:
Accept tax-deductible donations for this documentary project.
Collaborate with Vivian Gibson and AGA Productions on storytelling and production.
Provide thematic input, drawing parallels between Mill Creek and Ozark communities where oral histories are at risk.
Support public screenings and discussions, expanding the film’s reach.
Mill Creek’s story mirrors those of once-vibrant Ozark communities whose memories now rest with only a few remaining elders. Through this collaboration, we look forward to strengthening our ability to safeguard these vital narratives for future generations.
How to Donate By Check
Make checks payable to Ozark Vitality
Write “Mill Creek Documentary” in the memo line
Mail to:
Ozark Vitality
2521 Highway OO
Farmington, MO 63640