Making a Difference in the Lives of Homeless Children “The plight of homeless children is not only America’s disgrace, but one of the planet’s most intransigent and horrific tragedies. We all must become informed and take action to end this vicious cycle!� —Maryana Palmer, Director/Producer, Invisible Children of L.A By Amy Weisberg, M.Ed., NBCT As a psychiatrist for 35 years, Topangan Maryana Palmer worked specifically with cancer patients. Dedicated as she was to her profession, her passion as a social justice activist since her teens, especially her concern for homeless children, inspired her to retire six years ago to produce and direct a documentary, Invisible Children of L.A. Her vision of 20 years became a dream come true. The documentary is honest, authentic, sometimes dark, sometimes joyful, but ultimately inspiring, as we witness the resiliency of nine homeless children and their parents as they struggle to survive. Through interviews and live footage, the film documents how the children and their families cope by living in shelters, motels, vehicles, and on the streets of Los Angeles. It also documents what is and is not being done to address the crisis in interviews with politicians from the L.A. City Council, the California Senate, and people advocating for the children. Invisible Children of L.A premiered at the Topanga Film Festival held at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in 2019. Since then, the documentary continues to be invited to film festivals and has won numerous awards here and abroad. Most recently was the “Audience Award-Best Television Length Documentary� at the 2022 Marina del Rey Film Festival. It also took a Gold Award at the Rome International Movie Awards, and first place at the Roy Dean Spring Competition—From the Heart Productions. With the completion of this film, Palmer’s courageous vision has brought international awareness to the plight of these children. When voices like those in Invisible Children of L.A are heard and every child has a home, then we’ll know the dream has really come true.