The Video That Helped Harvard Find Meaning After Crisis – And What Nonprofits Can Learn From It
“I literally became sick. I couldn’t breathe.”
That’s how one participant described the days following October 7th.
In the weeks after the attacks, a stream of mission groups – made up of university faculty, community leaders, donors, and individuals – began arriving in Israel. Some came to understand what had happened. Others came to show support, process their own shock, or find the strength to move forward. Many were seeking a connection they could no longer find at home.
I was hired to capture some of these journeys – by institutions including Harvard, Stanford, and Penn – and to turn them into short films. What started as simple documentation quickly became something much more.
The videos we created weren’t “highlight reels.” They were emotional time capsules. They captured how it felt to walk through a kibbutz devastated by terror. To meet families of hostages. To hear from university presidents struggling with academic boycotts. To witness, again and again, the paradox of deep pain and relentless hope.
And I think there’s something here that more nonprofits should be paying attention to.
What Is a Mission Recap Video?
A mission recap video follows a group through a meaningful experience – often over a few days – and captures the transformation they undergo. Not just what they did, but what they felt, what changed in them, and what they want to carry forward.
“Coming here, I don’t need to explain how I feel. That’s the reason a lot of us came on this trip.”
This format doesn’t include a pitch. It focuses on the truth of a specific experience. And ironically, that’s what makes it so powerful from a communications standpoint.
Why This Format Works – Especially Now
In a world saturated with messaging, people don’t want to be sold yet another product. They’re hungry for something real. When they see other people asking the same questions they are, grappling with the same complexities, they recognize the potential for a genuine connection.
Mission recap videos work because:
They offer emotional authenticity, captured in the moment
They follow a natural arc of discovery and reflection
They advocate for a cause not by preaching or telling the viewer what to think – but by letting them witness other people’s honest journeys into conviction. Because the viewer sees the story unfold through the eyes of someone else, the message lands with more trust and less resistance.
What This Means for Nonprofits
If your organization leads trips – whether for faculty, donors, students, or board members – a mission recap video may be one of the most powerful tools you’re not using.
Here’s what this format can do:
Elevate the participant’s experience. A well-crafted video helps people process their emotions and gives shape to their story. After making (and later watching) the video, mission participants will feel an even stronger bond with your organization than before.
Extend the reach. These aren’t just mementos for those who were personally involved – they’re assets that travel. Show mission videos in classrooms, synagogues, board meetings, and on your social media feeds to spread your message in an unusually effective way.
Humanize complex stories. A lot of organizations struggle to boil down their work into a pitch that can be delivered quickly in a meeting. Instead of trying to “make the case,” these films let participants speak in their own words – and their voices resonate.
“We already collaborate with Israeli universities. Now we’re going to strengthen those ties – and stand up for our colleagues.”
The Takeaway
“We need to bring back what we’ve seen… and talk about it in many, many, many, many circles.”
Mission recap videos don’t just help participants remember – they give them a way to remember. And they help others understand. Whether you’re running a university, a nonprofit, or a donor network, this format offers something different: not a hard sell, but a meaningful connection.
If you’re planning a mission or trip like this, I’d love to talk about how to help your participants come home not just with memories – but with something to harness the transformative nature of the experience.