Pasos for Oak Cliff co-founders Alejandra Zendejas and Jesse Acosta on a Netflix filming set. Photo courtesy of Zendejas.
Alejandra Zendejas and Jesse Acosta, co-founders of the neighborhood nonprofit Pasos for Oak Cliff, thought they were being scammed when a Netflix promotions casting manager reached out to them out of the blue.
The manager talked about an upcoming Netflix movie called You People, where two main characters share a love of stylish sneakers.
It’s a concept Zendejas and Acosta could speak to. Pasos for Oak Cliff is known for it’s back-to-school and Christmas time shoe drives, so Zendejas and Acosta know cool kicks when they see them.
The rest of the details were slim, but the couple decided it was worth a shot, whatever it was.
Zendejas and Acosta were given gold rings designed by sneaker designer Sean Wotherspoon and jewelry designer Greg Yuna. Photo courtesy of Zendejas.
Zendejas and Acosta filled out surveys and filmed videos talking about their relationship, and when they got the call they’d been chosen for the project, Zendejas said it “didn’t feel real.”
“We were curious how we got chosen, and the creative director told us that one of their team members followed out nonprofit and when the project came up he mentioned us,” Zendejas said. “They said they wanted to find a couple that was deserving of this opportunity and he brought us up.”
Zendejas and Acosta spent a weekend in New York filming on a Netflix set where they talked about their relationship and Pasos for Oak Cliff. They were also able to watch an early screening of the film.
At the end of the shoot, the couple was given matching rings that look like gold and diamond encrusted shoe laces.
“To us, it’s really cool to see Oak Cliff being represented on this platform,” Zendejas said. “It was something we couldn’t have ever dreamed of.”
Watch the full video below to see Zendejas and Acosta talk about their organization and receive the rings on camera.
