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Gentlemen Of Vision Coach, Filmmakers Take St. Louis Story To Colombia

(L-R) Marlon Wharton, Jim Kerchherr and Frank Popper talked about their recent trip to the South American country of Colombia on Monday's "St. Louis on the Air."

In 2016, the Nine Network produced a documentary about Gentlemen of Vision, the north St. Louis County-based step team that doubles as a counseling and mentoring program.

The story resonated with local and national audiences, and also with representatives from the U.S. State Department. Officials selected it to be part of the American Film Showcase, a program that sends American filmmakers to screen their work across the globe.

The team behind “Gentlemen of Vision” flew out to Cartagena, Colombia, to show the film and talk to Colombian audiences about St. Louis and the similar challenges that face disadvantaged young people in both places.

On Monday’s St. Louis on the Air, Frank Popper and Jim Kirchherr, who co-directed the documentary, and Marlon Wharton, the co-founder and coach of Gentlemen of Vision, joined guest host Sharon Stevens to discuss their experiences in Colombia and how audiences at home and abroad have responded to their film.

Listen to the full discussion: 

St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. “St. Louis on the Air” producers Alex Heuer, Evie Hemphill, Lara Hamdan and Jon Lewis give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.

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Jon Lewis was the production intern at St. Louis Public Radio from January to May 2019. Originally from Pelham, New York, Jon came to St. Louis to attend Washington University in 2015. Previously, Jon has interned for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Eight by Eight, a soccer magazine based in Brooklyn.