True Humans

True Humans is the story about residents of Sonoma Developmental Hospital who were evicted in 2018. The film premiered in 2019 and was produced by XQL Media and directed by Sonoma County film producer, director and writer Malinalli López Arreguín.

The documentary intimately chronicles the closure of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), a state-run facility in Eldridge, California, which served individuals with developmental disabilities for over 125 years. Through poignant interviews with former residents and their families, the film captures the emotional and logistical challenges faced during the transition to community-based living arrangements following the center's shutdown in 2018. Notably, the documentary features the story of Buck, affectionately known as Bucky as well as other residents who had lived their for many decades. For those familiar with Buck’s presence at the SDC bus stop, he was always dressed in yellow and enjoyed waving to others. True Humans premiered at the Sebastiani Theatre on August 4, 2019, with proceeds supporting the Parent Hospital Association/Family Advocates United, and was subsequently screened at venues including the Raven Performing Arts Center, fostering community dialogue on the human impact of institutional closures.