As part of a yearlong initiative called “Searching for Democracy,” the Newport Beach Public Library has teamed up with the Newport Beach Film Festival to present a free screening and discussion of “Stories from an Undeclared War” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the library’s Friends Room.
The event includes a question and answer session with author and screenwriter Erin Gruwell, according to a library statement.
“Stories from an Undeclared War” is a feature-length documentary about 150 at-risk students from Long Beach who were once considered “unteachable,” according to the library statement.
“Encouraged by their teacher, Erin Gruwell, and inspired by the writings of teen authors, including Anne Frank, the students discovered a new way to express themselves and began to care more about history, humanity, and perhaps most importantly, themselves,” the statement said.
Organizers suggest that attendees be at least 13 years old.
The screening is part of the library’s “Searching for Democracy” initiative, which was developed by Cal Humanities in partnership with the California Center for the Book. The Newport Beach library was one of 51 public libraries to receive a grant for the program, which has the goal of sparking public conversations on the nature and needs of democracy.
After the screening, Gruwell sill discuss and sign copies of “Freedom Writers Diary,” and copies will be on sale with the proceeds benefiting the Freedom Writers Foundation.
For more information, call (949) 717-3870 or click here.
Photo courtesy of the Newport Beach Public Library.
Comments
May 18th, 2012
Although this sounds like a wonderful idea, why are 13 year olds invited but there is no mention of parents being invited? "Searching for Democracy"? It sounds like liberal indoctrination to me. Yeah, let's have more government sponsor events, then ask residents to pay more taxes to pay for it.
