Legacy

For four generations the Collins family was trapped in urban poverty, depending upon welfare and living in one of the most dangerous public housing projects in America--Chicago's Henry Horner Homes. However, the family manages to get by, resolved to break the cycle of poverty. Filmmaker Tod Lending had heard about a special family member, Terrell Collins, a straight-A student and neighborhood leader. Terrell sounded perfect for the series he produced for PBS, "No Time to Be a Child"... Lending had just finished an interview with Terrell's grandmother and was waiting to interview Terrell when the news came: someone had gunned down the 14-year-old on his way home from school. Through the powerful and dignified voices of three generations Collins women, "Legacy" follows the inspiring story of how members of one African-American family, over a five year period, recovered from the loss of a child, broke free of welfare, overcame addiction and escaped the specter of violence in their community.