By Hannah Stewart (Comm鈥�19)
The clouds and clear skies fought for dominance over Kyiv, reflecting the tension on the ground, as Jordan Campbell stepped off the worst bus ride of his life鈥攁 24-hour slog from Krak贸w, Poland, to Ukraine鈥檚 capital.
It was the second of what would be many trips to Ukraine, and the beginning of an ambitious documentary film. Standing at the bus station, weighted under camera gear and body armor, he considered himself a storyteller.
Now, after three further visits to the front lines, he sees himself as a war journalist.
鈥淚t鈥檚 breaking my heart to see one of my favorite countries being hit like this,鈥� Campbell (Comm鈥�91) said. 鈥淚 was embedded with NGOs, riding around in an ambulance, because I鈥檓 fascinated by humanitarians doing amazing work around the world. And the best thing I can do to serve humanity is go out, tell the stories and come back safe.鈥�
Campbell traversed literal and figurative mountains to become the filmmaker he is today. Climbs in Tibet and Nepal gave him an up-close look at injustice and inequality, awakening a passion for humanitarianism. His work in media鈥攊n a senior communications role with Marmot and as a freelancer for National Geographic鈥攇ave him the tools to tell life-changing stories from across the globe.
鈥淚 was a corporate guy with a love of moonlight journalism,鈥� he said.
In 2011, on assignment for National Geographic in war-ravaged South Sudan, Campbell documented the work of cataract surgeon Dr. Geoff Tabin. Upon returning to the States, he was approached by filmmaker Michael Herbener鈥攚ho is also working on the Ukraine project鈥攚ith the idea of using Campbell鈥檚 footage to make a documentary.
鈥楬aving an impact鈥�
That film, Duk County: Peace Is in Sight in the New South Sudan, went on to win awards and was screened twice at the United Nations.
鈥淭he awards feel good, but I want to connect with the audience and have them feel the same way I felt when I was in the field,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淭o take it to the United Nations twice, that鈥檚 the stuff that makes me feel like we鈥檙e having an impact.鈥�
The desire for humanitarian impact鈥攃ombined with his experience as a communications professional and visual storyteller鈥攑rompted Campbell to found Ramro Global in 2019.
Its seven-person advisory council contributes insights into global challenges. Christina Tobias-Nahi, who specializes in the Middle East and North Africa for Ramro, met Campbell in 2018 when she spoke at CU Boulder鈥檚 Conference on World Affairs.
She is based in Washington, D.C., and as director of public affairs, research and advocacy for Islamic Relief USA, she often travels to places with mass displacement.
A Guatemalan soldier guards the hospital entrance in the small town of Tejutla. Photo by Jordan Campbell.
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Jordan puts his life in danger to bring these stories to people. I really admire his bravery."
Christina Tobias-Nahi
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鈥淚 do a lot of advocacy,鈥� she said. 鈥淓verything is so political and contentious, and I admire Jordan鈥檚 willingness to use his voice to change political will in Washington.鈥�
Somewhat unconventionally, Campbell also appoints advisors for issues that demand global attention, which is how Michael Carter鈥攁n expert in the geopolitics of power and energy鈥攃ame to the board.
Carter鈥檚 experience comes from more than 25 years in the energy industry, where he works on issues of transparency and inequity, like lack of access to sustainable power and movement toward a lower-carbon future.
鈥淚t takes a very thoughtful and calm, compassionate mind to look at inequity and do something about it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the essence of what Jordan is trying to accomplish.鈥�
As a business strategist, Carter has helped Campbell develop Ramro Global from concept to company. As an energy expert, he provides unique insight into the humanitarian projects Campbell chronicles.
鈥淪ome of the first targets the Russian army hit were the Ukrainian power plants,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淧ower allows us to communicate鈥� especially through mobile phones鈥攁nd I want to help Jordan communicate his message. He has dedicated himself to humanitarianism.鈥�
Frequent flyer
Campbell is also dedicated to truth and authenticity, which is why he kept returning to Ukraine despite the rising risk. He hasn鈥檛 shied from documenting the desperation and destruction he saw working alongside Project Konstantin, a front-line medical evacuation team. Last year, when the U.S. Senate hosted a Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum event, Campbell presented a six-minute cut of the film, Ukraine Under Fire. He also met with Ukrainian Embassy staff.
鈥淭here were representatives from 60 countries in attendance who appreciated my testimony because I was an expert witness on what was going on there,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a cataract surgeon, I鈥檓 not a pediatric cardiac surgeon. But I鈥檓 a journalist and I鈥檓 a visual storyteller, and I can make some noise and do good things in the world.鈥�
Campbell鈥檚 goal with Ukraine Under Fire is to capture a slice of the war while focusing on themes like democracy, sovereignty and鈥攑erhaps most important鈥攔esilience. He posted a teaser on the company鈥檚 website for public viewing and hopes screenings of the completed film in Washington and throughout Europe will help to further those themes.
鈥淭his can turn into such a bigger conflict,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he scale and scope drew me to the subject. And if you鈥檙e a journalist, you want to capture something, add value鈥攁nd then get out of the way.鈥�
Not only has he been shaken by the devastation while on the front lines, but the impacts have followed him home: Nearly every place he visited has since been bombed, and he鈥檚 lost friends to the conflict, as well. It has, as he put it, 鈥済otten under my rib cage.鈥�
That鈥檚 only strengthened Campbell鈥檚 commitment to honoring their courage and sacrifice through his film.
鈥淪ome people become the bystanders, and some people become the heroes,鈥� Tobias-Nahi said. 鈥淛ordan puts his life in danger to bring these stories to people, and it gives a face to that humanitarian need. I really admire his bravery.鈥�