DCF PRESENTS “FREEDOM WRITER” FILM & AUTHOR KEYNOTE
Freedom Writers movie at Rehoboth Beach Film Society, Sept. 23
Keynote by Dear Freedom Writer author at the University of Delaware, Oct. 18
The Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) is pleased to invite the community to a free screening of the movie Freedom Writers in Lewes on Sept. 23 and a “pay-what-you-wish” Keynote presentation by Dear Freedom Writer author Erin Gruwell in Newark on Oct. 18.
The two events are part of the DCF’s Building Opportunity in Delaware initiative, which aims to advance important conversations throughout the First State. This year, Building Opportunity in Delaware is centered on Gruwell’s book Dear Freedom Writers, a book of eye-opening and inspiring stories that offers a powerful message of perseverance, understanding, and hope.
Register at delcf.org/building-opportunity:
Film Screening: Sept. 23 at 2 p.m., free screening and a discussion of Freedom Writers, a 2007 film based on Gruwell’s first book, The Freedom Writers Diary, at the Cinema Arts Theater, 17701 Dartmouth Dr., Lewes, DE 19958. Presented in partnership with the Rehoboth Beach Film Society.
Erin Gruwell’s Keynote (in person or virtual): Oct. 18 at 6 p.m., “Pay-what-you-wish” Keynote presentation at the University of Delaware, Clayton Hall, 100 David Hollowell Dr, Newark, DE 19716.
Dear Freedom Writer follows Gruwell’s original book, The Freedom Writers Diary, which tells the story of Gruwell’s first class of students who overcame hardships in their lives through the power of writing. In Dear Freedom Writer – which hundreds of Delawareans read this summer through the DCF’s Building Opportunity Book Circles –a new generation of Freedom Writers shares its struggles with abuse, racism, discrimination, poverty, mental health, imposed borders, LGBTQIA+ identity, and police violence. Each story is answered with a letter of advice from an original Freedom Writer. With empathy and honesty, they address these young people with the pragmatic advice of people who have dealt with these same issues and come out on the other side.
Through its eye-opening and inspiring stories, Dear Freedom Writer paints an unflinchingly honest portrait of today’s youth and offers a powerful message of perseverance, understanding, and hope.
For more information about the events, visit delcf.org/building-opportunity or contact Yolanda Rushdan, [email protected] or 302.504.5239.