Building Home | World Premiere: New Documentary

RESERVE SPACE BUILDING HOME • WORLD PREMIERE: NEW DOCUMENTARY PRESENTED BY THE INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE & BEYOND HOMELESS Join The Independent Institute, Beyond Homeless, and Free The People for the world premiere of Building Home, followed by a panel discussion with the people on screen. The Building Home Documentary Screening Happens In The Cowell Theater, Pier 2 EVENT DETAILS What does it really take to help someone rebuild a life? Building Home, the new documentary from Beyond Homeless, The Independent Institute, and Free The People, follows Jared’s story and asks what it actually takes for someone in his position to come home – not just to a physical space but to a life worthy of living. Following the film, Dr. Drew Pinsky, addiction medicine physician and one of the clearest public thinkers on what drives people into and out of addiction, moderates a panel discussion of the film’s themes. Joining him on the panel are Steve Adami, Executive Director of The Way Out, The Salvation Army San Francisco’s recovery-focused homeless initiative designed to help people like Jared; Scott Ackerson, who helped develop Haven for Hope in San Antonio, TX, a campus that has moved thousands of people through recovery and into stable lives; and Matt Dorsey, member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, whose district includes the Tenderloin, and is himself in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Dr. Drew Pinsky is a board-certified physician in Internal and Addiction Medicine, popular television host, author, and public speaker. He has treated tens of thousands of patients in his 40 years as a physician, and he still runs a thriving private practice specializing in Internal Medicine in Pasadena, CA. He provided the foreword for Beyond Homeless: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes, Transformative Solutions. Matthew Dorsey is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, representing District 6, which includes the Tenderloin, South of Market, and parts of the Mission and SoMa neighborhoods. He championed legislation requiring city-funded supportive housing to maintain sober living environments. As the only current member of the Board to acknowledge his history with substance-use disorder, Dorsey is committed to providing paths to recovery for those struggling with addiction and homelessness. Steve Adami, MPA, is Executive Director of The Way Out, the San Francisco Salvation Army’s recovery-focused, long-term homeless initiative that provides housing and services. After being released from prison in 2010, he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (Public Policy/Criminal Justice); was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, a National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration; and received the Barbara Jordan Award for Academic Excellence. He subsequently served as Director of the Reentry Division of the San Francisco Adult Probation Department before joining The Way Out. Scott Ackerson, a Licensed Master Social Worker, is Director of the Social Impact Studio at WestEast Design Group, and former Vice President of Strategic Relationships for Haven for Hope in San Antonio, TX. He is an Adjunct Professor of Social Work and serves on several non-profit boards. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Prospera Housing Community Services, was a Principal at Health Management Associates, Inc., and served as Chief Program Officer for SAM Ministries, as Vice President of Residential Services for The Children’s Shelter, and as Community Program Director with Casey Family Programs. PLAN YOUR VISIT DATE Friday, August 21, 2026 TIME 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Guests welcome. Light refreshments available. 6:00 p.m. Film Screening 7:00 p.m. Panel discussion and question-and-answer session LOCATION Cowell Theater, Pier 2, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco COST FREE (Reserve space in advance) The Independent Institute: Independent.org (510) 632-1366 •…