On this episode of the Film Sessions Podcast, we are excited to feature Oral Sledge:

“The documentary series, Desire to Fly, depicts the journey of Oralanne Sledge, age 11, as she travels with her dad from Tucson Arizona to Compton California. She comes from a single parent household that realizes the barriers people of color face when attempting to enter it Aviation. The journey is 1000 miles round trip and we have not missed an in person session. Each attendance awards flight time to her log book adding gradually to the number of hours required (40 hours) when she becomes eligible to take her FAA single pilots solo test at age 16 and to be certified to fly at 17.

Being abandoned by her mother at age 5, the need for fellowship and a sense of family is paramount for Oralanne. She finds the like minded 30+ youths from diverse backgrounds, in the program at Fly Compton Educational Foundation, family like and welcoming each and every time.

Alternately, zoom classes are held every other week to reinforce what was taught in person. Having role models that are people of color reinforce the belief that she too can achieve the goals before her is so very essential!

It is a blessing and privilege for this Vietnam Era Veteran (myself) to support my daughters journey while producing and directing this series, with the support and encouragement from film professors at rhe University of Arizona, as she breaks barriers and accomplishes what many others have been prevented from achieving. There is no other full time, low cost/free pilot training year round school for youth in the United States! We are honored to be accepted and excited to continue the journey, no matter how trying and difficult, to see this mission through.”

This episode was hosted and produced by Mark Leschinsky, the Festival Director of the Student World Impact Film Festival.