Last year, reporter Matt Kempner went to a homeless encampment near I-85 in Atlanta to write about the people there and the sense of community they had built. While in the area known as “The Hill,” he heard about a dancer who had supposedly performed around the world before ending up on the streets.

The tale stuck with Kempner. Haunted him, really. So he decided to look into it. For Kempner, Gerard Alexander’s story is a reminder that there are remarkable people all around us, sometimes in unexpected places.

Telling Gerard’s story involved interviews with about 40 people, off and on over a five-month period. Kempner also filed open records requests, searched government records in five states, scoured obituaries and social media sites, visited homeless encampments and watched lots of dance footage.

There were challenges piecing together Gerard’s life in part because he had lived largely off the grid for years and kept secrets. Several people who were close to him had died. Crucially, Kempner never met Gerard Alexander in person. He wishes he had.

Kempner has been with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years, working as a reporter, editor and columnist.

AJC filmmakers (and brothers) Ryon and Tyson Horne helped bring Gerard’s story to life in a new documentary, visiting his (and their) hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, New York City and Lakeland, Florida.

AJC editor Colleen McMillar helped conceive story plans, was a sounding board for the writing and then led editing of the stories.

We thank the many people who helped us tell this story, including Tracy Thompson of The Elizabeth Foundation, Tracy Woodard of Intown Cares, James Rosheger, Ferdinand De Jesus, Alfred Gallman, George Faison, Trey Nelson, David Berryhill, Allen Welty-Green, Nicholas Rodriguez, Mary Pat Henry, Lonnie Davis, Betty Alexander, DeeAnna Hiett, Jerome Nuney Stigler, Tracy Vogt, Jennifer Medina, Timothy Armour, Ghia Jackson, Stan Sullivan, Chattanooga, Tattoo, Kevin, Zion Hamilton, Carol Krajacic Erkes, Duane Cyrus, Joanne Savio, Winston Dynamite Brown, Natashia Simon, Raquelle Chavis, Genevieve Bernard, Sharon Story, Holly DeWitt, G.D. Harris, Cici, Liz, Travis Williams, Michael Green, Joy Johnson, Bruce Bardarik, Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office, MaryAnn Spoto, the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Atlanta Ballet, the Georgia Ballet and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.