In 2021, as filmmaker Benjamin Wagner (Mister Rogers & Me) grappled with the growing impact of trauma and chronic stress came into focus in his life and the world around him, he returned to wisdom of Mr. Rogers that emphasized the importance of community in relation to problem-solving. In FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS: STORIES OF HOPE AND HEALING, Wagner returns to his own developmental traumas to better understand their causes, context and impact. He examines his career to recognize how adverse stress maladapts our nervous systems and drives unhealthy coping mechanisms and poor health outcomes. The film features conversations with friends and neighbors who are making a positive impact on society from all walks of life. By sharing these diverse stories, FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS: STORIES OF HOPE AND HEALING creates space for others to do the same and provides roadmaps for healing and strategies for healthier lives and communities.