- Street:
- Village Books
- Additional:
- 1200 Eleventh Street
- City:
- Bellingham ,
- Province:
- Washington
- Postal Code:
- 98225
- Country:
- United States
Depicted in a bestselling book (The Freedom Writers Diary) and a feature film (Freedom Writers, starring Oscar Winner and former Bellinghamster, Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell), the Freedom Writers phenomenon came about in 1994, when Erin began her first teaching job in Long Beach, CA, which was still reeling from the deadly violence that erupted during the Rodney King riots, and the kids in Erin's classroom reflected the anger, resentment, and hopelessness of their community. Undaunted, Erin fostered an educational philosophy that valued and promoted diversity, tolerance, and communication, and in the process, she transformed her students' lives, as well as her own.
Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers established the Freedom Writers Foundation to replicate their success and provide all students with hope and opportunities to realize their academic potential. The foundation has since trained over 150 teachers in the United States and Canada, including Kirsten Jensen and Darence Shine, who join us for this event.
Teaching Hope unites the voices of these Freedom Writer teachers, who share uplifting, devastating, and poignant stories from their classrooms, stories that provide insight into the struggles and triumphs of education in all of its forms. These are the voices of teachers who persevere in the face of intolerance, rigid administration, and countless other challenges, and continue to reach out and teach those who are often deemed “unteachable.” Since The Freedom Writers Diary was first published ten years ago, the story of Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers has touched hearts and brought hope to thousands all over the world. Now, 150 Freedom Writer Teachers open their classrooms and their hearts in Teaching Hope.
Kirsten Jensen lives in Bellingham and teaches ninth and tenth grade English at Nooksack Valley High School in Everson, WA. Darence Shine lives in Poulsbo and is youth counselor with the Olympic Education Service District 114. Some of Kirsten’s Freedom Writer Students will also present. As the school year is ready to begin, join us to be inspired and to witness the power of the Teaching Hope.
2012 Chuckanut Writers Conference
