HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania State Archives will hold a free screening and panel discussion of the documentary You. Sleep. Stay. on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 2:30 PM. The event will be held at the Pennsylvania State Archives building, located at 1681 North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA.
Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker David Grabias, You. Sleep. Stay. offers a poignant look into the life of Fred, a deaf man with intellectual and developmental disabilities who lived at Polk State Center for over seven decades before the institution’s closure in 2023. Rich with historical footage and intimate accounts, the documentary explores themes of belonging, care, and societal responsibility, urging viewers to rethink how we support the most vulnerable in our communities.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the director, David Grabias; Sherri Landis, Executive Director of the Arc of Pennsylvania; Lisa Tesler, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council; and John Ashbaugh, Fred’s brother. The panelists will share insights into the making of the film and discuss the broader implications of the documentary’s themes.
The Pennsylvania State Archives played a key role in providing historical materials for the film, including rare footage, photographs, and records from Polk State Center. These documents are part of the Archives’ extensive collection that chronicles Pennsylvania’s history of disability care.
Having premiered at the Movies That Matter Festival in The Hague, the documentary will begin a statewide tour across Pennsylvania. The Archives’ screening offers a unique opportunity for attendees to explore the intersection of historical preservation and contemporary storytelling.
This free event is open to the public and requires no pre-registration. It invites attendees to reflect on the shared responsibility of caring for all Pennsylvanians through the lens of history and personal narrative.
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