Youth, Activism, and the Power of Telling the Truth: Fred Isaacs on Middletown

At the Milwaukee Film Festival, Middletown arrived not just as a documentary screening, but as a timely reminder of what happens when young people are trusted to lead—and when their voices refuse to be ignored.

I sat down with Fred Isaacs, the former high school teacher at the heart of Middletown, whose real-life classroom became the launchpad for a youth-led environmental movement in the 1990s. In the film, Isaacs appears alongside four of his former students, revisiting a moment when education, civic responsibility, and activism collided in a way that still resonates today.

When Isaacs was first approached about turning this chapter of his life into a film, he admits he was anxious. “When somebody’s going to make a film about your life and something that you’ve done, it’s a little bit scary,” he told me. “You hope they’re going to do the right thing with it.”

According to Isaacs, directors Jesse and Amanda did exactly that. He believes Middletown captures the true spirit of youthful activism—its urgency, its idealism, and its refusal to accept the world as it is. “It serves as a model for today,” he said plainly. “We need some activism at this point.”

What began as a local fight over environmental concerns has proven to be a story with long legs. Isaacs originally believed the film’s relevance would last as long as the environmental issues did. Thirty years later, he sees deeper meaning. The film underscores the intelligence, energy, and moral clarity of young people—qualities that often get underestimated or dismissed.

“They haven’t been corrupted by life yet,” Isaacs explained. “They can throw themselves into political activism in a way that’s desperately needed right now.”

Middletown also explores the tension between grassroots truth-telling and institutional silence. In the film, the students and their teacher face resistance from a local newspaper reluctant to fully tell their story. The irony, Isaacs noted, is that the newspaper no longer exists in any meaningful form. What remains is advertising and syndicated content—with no real local reporting.

“That makes the story even more important today,” he said. “People need to realize that local news matters—and that information can come from many sources, including students and everyday citizens who are paying attention.”

Our conversation also touched on place and time. While this wasn’t Isaacs’ first visit to Milwaukee—he passed through decades ago as a hitchhiker—this return gave him a new perspective. “It’s a beautiful city,” he said, reflecting on how much it’s changed since the days when the skyline had just a single tower.

As Middletown continues its festival run, its message feels especially urgent. In an era where trust in institutions is fragile and youth voices are often sidelined, the film stands as proof that real change can start in a classroom—and that young people, when empowered, can challenge systems far bigger than themselves.

From Milwaukee to Middletown, Middletown isn’t just a story about the past. It’s a call to action for the present.

Kickin’ It With Tyree.