As part of AT&T’s Codes of Culture campaign, we wanted to create a film that highlighted something only the (312) and (773) area codes of Chicago could claim.

The Changeover is a response to anyone who has doubted this city, called it Chi-Raq, or has only seen Chicago as the media portrays it: dangerous, riddled with violence, hopeless. The film shines a spotlight on the city’s young talent who have taken it upon themselves to rewrite the narrative of Chicago through art.

The film features artists from the city’s most stigmatized neighborhoods, including Saba, Korporate, Cole Bennett, and the young poets of Chance The Rapper’s SocialWorks organization. In three acts of multi-genre performances, they come together to show the world the beauty that lies behind the negative headlines of their city.

This is the real story of Chicago, as told by Chicago.