Meet New Day: Joanne Hershfield
For over 40 years, I’ve been dedicated to creating social issue documentaries that amplify voices often left unheard. My work has focused on telling stories of strong women and the organizations striving to create progressive change. From Mama C: Urban Warrior in the African Bush, which highlights the inspiring journey of Charlotte O’Neal, a former Black Panther turned activist, to Men Are Human, Women Are Buffalo, addressing violence against women in Thailand, my films aim to spotlight resilience and transformation. My latest project, Benevolence, a Journey From Prison to Home, continues this mission by sharing the stories of formerly incarcerated women rebuilding their lives.
Benevolence, a Journey From Prison to Home follows the lives of five women who transition from prison to Benevolence Farm, a unique organization in North Carolina. This farm provides more than a bed and meals—it offers an opportunity for these women to grow food, build community, and reimagine their futures. In a system where transitional housing is scarce and often inadequate, Benevolence Farm becomes a beacon of hope. By sharing their own stories of incarceration, challenges, and aspirations, these women reveal both the systemic barriers they face and the transformative potential of support systems like this.
As one woman in the film poignantly shares, “There’s a lot of girls who go to prison and they want to change. But a lot of them don’t have the resources. They don’t have the help… A lot of them go back to the very same place and things that got them there.” Her words encapsulate the vital role of transitional spaces like Benevolence Farm in breaking cycles of recidivism and offering genuine opportunities for change. I wanted to create a film that gives these women the space to tell their own stories—stories that are raw, honest, and filled with hope.
Through Benevolence, a Journey From Prison to Home, I reaffirmed my philosophy as a documentarian: the people in my films are the best narrators of their own lives. My role is to provide a platform for these voices to be heard, with the hope that their stories will inspire meaningful dialogue and action.
Watch the Trailer
I invite you to watch the trailer for Benevolence, a Journey From Prison to Home and learn more about the women of Benevolence Farm.