Author Spotlight
Lily Simmons
Current Just Like You Films executive producer Mandi Kearns’ family has been controlled by food allergies since her 13-year-old son was born. For the sake of her son, who is severely allergic to over 10 foods, she spreads awareness about food allergies in schools and businesses.
After her son had a severe reaction at school, in which he was hospitalized for 6 hours, Kearns was inspired to share her son’s story with others through film — which she did with the help of CEO & Founder of Just Like You Films and former East parent Jen Greenstreet.
Greenstreet felt creating this film could possibly affect millions. Both she and Kearns knew how important it is to spread awareness and build acceptance around food allergies, as one third of children with them report being bullied, according to NPR.org. Dr. Ruchi Gupta at Northwestern University suspects that the problem may stem from a lack of awareness.
“Food allergies are stigmatized and seen as a weakness, especially on social media” Greenstreet said. “But it’s an invisible disease, and you can’t tell if someone lives with them by looking,”
Greenstreet and Kearns interviewed kids with severe food allergies who were interested in the film’s message, which inspired them to show the lifestyle of children with allergies by a narrative piece weaved into the documentary. The storyline will follow a student in school who is being forced to eat an allergen, and has a reaction at school.
“The viewer will actually get to see what a reaction is actually like,” Kearns said. “That’s the purpose of the narrative, to show — not tell.”
Filming was finished over summer and it is now in the editing process, set to debut sometime this year or the next. The women hope to impact as many people as possible by using celebrities’ faces to attract viewers. “Girl Meets World” star August Maturo, who is allergic to peanuts, will star in the narrative. NFL running back Jerome Bettis, who has a severe shellfish allergy, will be the film’s celebrity spokesperson.
“It’s easier to identify with people we know and look up to,” Kearns said. “I think it’s really good for kids who live with food allergies to see successful and highly respected people that are just like them.”
Kearns and Greenstreet believe allergies are overlooked in the world of health, even though about 7.6% of U.S. kids have food allergies, according to AAFA.org. In each classroom, 1-2 students have food allergies — and the number is rising.
Sophomore Lucy Pace lives with oral allergy syndrome, meaning that her body rejects certain fruits and vegetables. She feels living with her allergy would be easier if more students were educated about it.
“Some people say it’s weird and constantly ask if they can eat things around me, even though my allergies aren’t airborne,” Pace said. “It’s just kind of annoying, like I just wish people understood it more.”
In the film’s documentary segment, Kearns and Greenstreet focus on how friends and peers can support those with allergies by simply having a better understanding of what they are. Like other Just Like You Films projects, the goal is to educate while being compassionate. Assumptions about food allergies can be dangerous, according to Kearns.
Besides food allergies, Greenstreet has produced 11 documentaries and short films about various unique circumstances including cancer, down syndrome, autism, facial anomalies, diabetes and anxiety and depression. The films have won 14 awards including two MidAmerican Emmys.
The films have been shown at benefits, businesses and classrooms around Kansas City, and feature kids from around the community — including Junior Luke Mantel and Alum Grace Chisolm, who were featured in the diabetes film.
“Our films really impact lives and change perspectives,” Greenstreet said. “We want to create a more empathetic and compassionate world through education, because when we know better, we do better.”
Visit justlikeyoufilms.org to view over 10 films.
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