WCPO-TV and CET (PBS) to broadcast documentary exploring Cincinnati to Guatemala Connections in Immigration, Coffee and Education

At a time when immigration is very much a hot topic in the United States, the new documentary “Connecting Cultures: Cincinnati to Guatemala,” offers a fresh take on the controversy by exploring three decades of immigration, business and coffee connections.  A Cincinnati-based nonprofit changing lives in Guatemala is featured, along with Guatemalan immigrants influencing businesses, schools, churches and neighborhoods in our Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.

“I believe people will be surprised to learn Guatemalan immigrants are credited with helping our city thrive,” said Filmmaker Laure Quinlivan. “I’m excited to introduce them to viewers.”

Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker Quinlivan traveled to Guatemala with the nonprofit Cooperative for Education (CoEd) and Cincinnati Rotarians earlier this year.  Guatemala is a poor developing country about the size of Ohio. A couple of west side Cincinnati brothers started working in Guatemala to improve literacy 30 years ago. Formerly, only one of three Guatemalans could read, now improved to two of three.

“Connecting Cultures: Cincinnati to Guatemala” will air in prime time on the television station where Quinlivan spent 13 years as Channel 9’s lead Investigative Reporter. The film premieres at 8 p.m. November 12, 2026, on WCPO 9 and will be available for an in-person community screening on Monday, November 16 at 7 pm at Mariemont Theater. Details at www.ConnectingCulturesFilm.com

Quinlivan spent a year interviewing dozens of people for her film, including former U.S. Congressman and Price Hill native Steve Driehaus, who says Hispanic immigration is the primary reason Cincinnati has grown, unlike most Midwestern cities. Cincinnati Hispanic Chamber President Alfonso Cornjeo says, outside of Chicago, the Cincinnati metropolitan area has the largest concentration of Guatemalans in the Midwest. Greg Robinson, Executive Director of Price Hill Will, tells the filmmaker 50% of active businesses in Price Hill are owned by Guatemalans.

Quinlivan explores Education and Coffee Business connections binding Cincinnati and Guatemala, and introduces us to people who have forged these strong relationships:

• West sider Joe Berninger, who co-founded Cooperative for Education to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala by teaching kids to read and graduate high school, with the help of sponsors in Cincinnati and around the world.
• Cincinnati families who sponsor Guatemalan children to ensure they graduate high school, since most Guatemalan students drop out after 6^th grade due to finances.
• Olga Hazard, a Guatemalan coffee grower who imports directly to the owners of Cincinnati’s Coffee Emporium, which is now sold at Kroger, Jungle Jim’s and online.
• Northern Kentucky University film students who travel to Olga’s farm during spring break for a study abroad experience producing videos on the coffee plantation.
• The priest at Our Lady of the Rosary who leads one of 40 Spanish-language masses at Archdiocese of Cincinnati churches, along with Community Pastor Victor Martinez, who leads Hispanic outreach for Crossroads Church.
• Walter Vasquez, a Guatemalan pastor with Bloc Ministries and OLA Immigration Welcome Center, who introduces us to Guatemalan entrepreneurs in Price Hill.
• Cincinnatians who have had life-changing experiences traveling to Guatemala.

“My motivation to produce this documentary is also a desire to share the many service opportunities, here and abroad, offered by Rotary Clubs in our country,” Quinlivan said. “I hope the film inspires people to perhaps mentor a Guatemalan student or try a Guatemalan restaurant in our community.”

About the Filmmaker

Laure Quinlivan’s previous documentary films, “Living with Landslides” and “Blue Goes Green” aired on WCPO-TV and on PBS stations nationwide.  After a 20-year career in television investigative journalism, Quinlivan founded LQ Consulting to create videos for clients and work on passion projects, namely, documentary films.

Laure won her second Peabody Award for her documentary “Visions of Vine Street” in 2002. Her first Peabody was awarded in 1999 for her tenacious reporting on mismanagement of stadium construction in Cincinnati.