Private Project

Harlem to Harvard

An inspirational short documentary about a teacher, Edouard E. Plummer, who helped over 600 students from Harlem attend the most elite boarding schools in the country creating countless ripples of generational impact.

  • Zuzelin Martin
    Director
    Craving Cuba Documentary
  • Zuzelin Martin
    Writer
    Craving Cuba
  • Akein Brown
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Inspirational, Social impact
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 24, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Zuzelin Martin

Zuzy Martin is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and former Host of the Girls in Tech Podcast. After the success of her award-winning documentary film, Craving Cuba, she co-founded a Latinx media platform and continued sharing stories of identity and what it means to follow the American Dream. Her creativity and compassion drive her to give voice to stories that need to be told.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Harlem to Harvard" is a compelling narrative that highlights one man's vision to illuminate the power of possibility and opportunity for bright students of color. Mr. Edouard E. Plummer, a dedicated teacher from Harlem, noticed that many bright students were being lost to the streets and he felt a visceral drive to do something about it so he started the Wadleigh Scholars Program, which prepared students for high school.

He recognized a glaring absence of black and brown faces in the nation's elite boarding schools and understood that graduates of these prestigious institutions—predominantly white, wealthy, and male—often secured admission to the best universities and perpetuated a legacy of generational wealth. Mr. Plummer wanted to create this same opportunity of generational impact for his students from Harlem.

This film connects the dots between Mr. Plummer’s vision in 1964 and a student named Genesis, who embarks on the challenging journey of applying to 17 boarding schools in 2024.

Given the current societal discourse questioning the validity of equity and diversity in all aspects of American life, I hope this documentary resonates and reminds audiences of the power of our human potential when given opportunity and support.

— Zuzelin Martin
Director, Producer