About the Film
My Square Mile
A Story of Faith, Leadership, and Lasting Community
My Square Mile is a legacy documentary that captures the life, calling, and impact of Art Erickson and the movement that grew from his decision to love one neighborhood deeply and for the long haul.
Rooted in South Minneapolis and extending to cities and nations around the world, the film tells the story of how lasting change begins when leaders commit to the place they call home.
The Story Behind the Film
Lasting change doesn’t start with programs. It starts with people.
My Square Mile explores a simple but powerful truth: the most effective form of transformation happens when communities are rebuilt from within, by leaders who are trusted, trained, and committed for the long term.
Strong communities are built when:
Leaders are trusted and developed
Work provides dignity and long-term opportunity
People are empowered to shape their own future
The film reveals a framework for change grounded in proximity, faith, and perseverance, one that invites others to imagine what could happen if they took responsibility for their own square mile.
Why South Minneapolis?
The story of My Square Mile is rooted in South Minneapolis, a community that has faced deep economic disruption and upheaval, particularly following the 2020 riots.
Art Erickson’s decades-long commitment to this neighborhood demonstrates what it looks like to stay, to build trust, and to invest in people through seasons of hardship and hope. The lessons learned here are meant to serve communities everywhere.
A Legacy Built Over Time
For more than 55 years, the work featured in this film has partnered with leaders across cultures and continents to support sustainable, community-driven transformation.
That lived experience gives this story credibility—and gives viewers a vision they can trust.
What the Film Shares
Through real stories, lived experience, and decades of impact, My Square Mile highlights:
A Leadership Framework
A proven approach to raising leaders who are excellent, educationally, morally, technically, and vocationally, so communities can thrive from the inside out.
Storytelling with Purpose
Documentary storytelling that awakens empathy, challenges assumptions, and moves viewers from awareness to responsibility.
A Replicable Vision
Not a personality-driven legacy, but a model designed to live on, inviting leaders, churches, businesses, and communities to carry the work forward.
The Vision
My Square Mile points toward a future where:
Leadership is cultivated locally
Opportunity is accessible and dignifying
Hope is restored and sustained across generations
Because change happens when people are equipped and willing to lead where they are
Carry the Legacy Forward
This film is an invitation.
An invitation to reflect
An invitation to invest
An invitation to take responsibility for your square mile
