‘different hopes for our wells’ follows hopewell, a village-like town in new jersey, during the week of a pivotal referendum to privatize its water system. as infrastructure costs rise and contamination concerns persist, residents must decide whether to maintain local ownership or transfer control to the country’s largest water utility company.

through interviews with proponents, opponents, and undecided voters, the film captures how deeply personal this decision has become. a cancer survivor worries about the cleanliness of her water. a philanthropist feels a deep sense of responsibility, going door to door the night before the vote. each neighbor approaches the facts in their own way.

in 2025, new jersey announced a historic $2 billion settlement with major chemical manufacturers over water contamination. yet as statewide accountability unfolds, hopewell has yet to receive any public relief. this film asks viewers to consider how delays in government support influence who controls the public system for generations to come. 

this audio story covers hopewell, a village-like town in new jersey, during the week of a pivotal referendum to privatize its water system.

in this podcast, listeners learn more about water contamination in the united states using hopewell as a case study. as infrastructure costs rise and contamination concerns persist, residents must decide whether to maintain local ownership or transfer control to the country’s largest water utility company.

through interviews with one proponent and one opponent of the sale, this captures how deeply personal this decision has become. 

this video breaks down how i creates earth art, encouraging viewers to indulge in the same meditative and eco-conscious activity. the art sector is becoming increasingly unsustainable. creating earth art and accepting that it is completely ephemeral, hopefully leaves the artist with a respect for the ephemerality of the ecosystem they are in. 

amid sea level rise, dunes play a vital role in protecting the 18 miles of long beach island in new jersey. unique wildlife can also be found here. in this short video, i stay off the literal dunes, instead foraging for materials at their base. earth art invites the artist to meditatively collaborate with the existing ecosystem to create something beautiful and respectful of the land.

at the same time, the art sector (painting, fashion, etc.) can be incredibly unsustainable. earth art, by contrast, is ephemeral and thus symbolic of nature itself. because the materials come from the earth, they return to it quickly. though the piece will soon become a pile scattered by the wind, it is striking how leaves and rocks can be arranged to depict a face for just a few brief moments in their eons on this land.