A film by Danny Schmidt, Produced by Pure Gold Pictures, in Association with SLOMotion Films. Supported by STIO. Executive Producers Alex & Julie Wallace, Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, Hayley Nenadal

George McKenzie Jr. traded the hard streets and violence of New York City for a life photographing some of the most elusive animals in North America for National Geographic. His next mission? Empower kids of color to access their own dreams and to protect the natural world.

From Brooklyn's concrete jungle to the heart of the Everglades, meet George McKenzie Jr., a Black photographer transforming his lens into a beacon of change. Swapping the weight of a gun for the promise of a camera, George found his calling amid nature's raw grandeur, capturing everything from city pigeons and rats to elusive panthers. His unique perspective earned him the title of National Geographic Explorer, but his mission runs deeper than recognition. George, a rare gem in the predominantly white canvas of wildlife photography, is empowering kids of color to shift their gaze to conservation. He's proof that the color of your skin shouldn't define the wild dreams you pursue, nor the impact you aspire to make.