A short documentary film
SHORTLISTED
FOR THE FALL 2025
ROY W. DEAN GRANT
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In the heart of the Midwest, the Lowrider Teacher is changing young lives, one bike at a time.
The story
Lowriders in the Heartland is a short documentary about an extraordinary after-school program in Kansas. Founded in 2017 by educator and community activist Erik Erazo, the Leadership Lowrider Bike Club has grown into one of the most successful after-school programs in the state.
The film follows a year in the life of the club, introducing us to Erik, Stephanie, a graduating high school senior and daughter of immigrants, and Christopher, a former club member and talented young Chicano photographer documenting lowrider culture around Kansas City.
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By making a tax-deductible donation, you will help us complete production and power the film’s distribution.
More than a story about designing and building bikes, the film shows how lowriding becomes a powerful tool for connection. Through Erik’s leadership, it bridges generations and cultures, giving young people a sense of pride, belonging, and purpose. It also showcases how immigrant communities are claiming space in the American cultural landscape.
The story builds to a powerful moment when Erik and his students travel to Washington, DC, to showcase their bikes and skills at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival for the first time.
The film explores themes of youth empowerment, intergenerational connection, the importance of belonging and the power of mentorship. It is a heartwarming portrayal of a community proudly sharing their culture and achievements, and shows how the immigrant experience can be both positive and enriching for everyone.
Join The Movement
The Leadership Lowrider Bike Club continues to expand deeper into the US. Ultimately it is Erik’s hope that there will be chapters in every state, and perhaps even overseas.
Once it is complete, Lowriders in the Heartland becomes a platform from which to advocate for the Bike Club’s program, helping it to reach deep into communities and school districts hungry for the tools to deliver the best results and attainment for their students. By signing up to our mailing list you can stay updated on the progress of the film and support not only its production, but also the continuing mission of the Leadership Lowrider Bike Club.
The Filmmakers
Director
Seth Binford
Seth is a Kansas native. In college and his early 20’s he worked with youth in the juvenile justice system in job preparation and gang aftercare initiatives in Kansas, and at a level 4 treatment facility for youth with traumatic childhoods in North Carolina. These experiences motivated Seth to pursue telling stories through film. His work is characterized by heightened visuals paired with authentic story-telling. Seth recently began transitioning from DoP to Director, allowing him greater ability to guide and shape narratives in a way that serves each project. His original short film about lowriding in Kansas City is now part of the National Museum of American History’s travelling exhibition Corazon y Vida: Lowriding Culture.
Producer
Lucy Stylianou
Lucy Stylianou is a producer whose career has been shaped by a deep belief in the transformative power of storytelling. Over nearly forty years, she has produced hundreds of hours of factual and documentary content for some of the world’s most respected broadcasters — including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Arte, ZDF, PBS, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. Films she has contributed to have received nominations from the Royal Television Society, the Grierson Awards, and the International Emmys. Her most recent short film is about harnessing the power of chess in prisons, as a tool to help with the rehabilitation of offenders.
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