Join Acacia in Kenya in raising awareness and resources to help educate girls. The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 in 2011 and declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face throughout the world. The event will feature the screening of the award winning documentary, Graceland Girls, produced and directed by Jordan Salvatoriello. This evening is designed to raise awareness of these incredible challenges, recognize the importance of empowering [...]

I am excited to learn that Graceland Girls screened at the Open Learning Exchange’s Community Learning Centre in Hagadera (Dadaab, Kenya) on April 14 to emphasize the power of educating girls to end the cycle of poverty.  The film screened alongside a second film about female genital mutilation, a practice which 100 – 140 million women and girls worldwide are still subjected to. Diane Pueschel, Global Programs Manager & CLC Program Director shared some photos she received of the screening.  [...]

“The best escalator out of poverty is education, whether in Boston or Bangladesh,” New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof told an auditorium full of students and social entrepreneurs at Education:Empowering Girls One Book at a Time at Northeastern University Wednesday evening. The event featured Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and co-author of their book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The inspiration for the book came following their time as Timescorrespondents in China where they learned of the nation’s female infanticide [...]

Join me for the 2014 United Nations Association of Greater Boston’s Women’s Forum celebration of International Women’s Day, Inspiring Change: Educating Girls to Break the Cycle of Poverty. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Inspiring Change,” celebrating the social, political and economic achievements of women while focusing world attention on areas requiring further action; advocating for women’s advancement everywhere in every way. Women’s Forum will be screening my film GRACELAND GIRLS followed by a panel discussion on the power of educating women and girls to [...]

Open source learning emerged in the late twentieth century and was embraced by select universities on a global scale by early 2000.  However, open educational resources, although bolstered by increased use of the internet, remained largely out of reach to those without online access. Organizations such as the Open Learning Exchange, a social benefit organization (501c3) headquartered in Cambridge, MA are committed to ensuring free access to quality basic learning for all.  This is particularly relevant for refugees and those displaced or [...]

I received a request to screen Graceland Girls at Oakton High School in northern Virginia, initiated by a 10th grader named Alicia.  Alicia took the initiative to start a local chapter of Girls Learn International, and wanted to screen the film for the group in celebration of the International Day of the Girl on October 29.  I am impressed!  Are there more strong women who want to make a difference like Alicia out there? I asked Alicia if she could [...]

We had a great discussion following the screening of The Making of Malala and Graceland Girls on Saturday at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, MA.  It was really great to share the girls’ stories with middle and high schoolers and to hear their reaction to the plight of their counterparts in other parts of the world. Some of my favorite responses were: “We take our education for granted, but we are actually very lucky to go to school.” When [...]

Check out two film festivals who are featuring Graceland Girls next weekend! 25th Paris International Lesbian & Feminist Film Festival will feature Graceland Girls on Friday, November 1(vendredi 1er novembre) at 17h00 – Petite Salle - Séance Kenya, générations féministes, Space EFCB, 23/25 rue Emile Zola – Montreuil 93100, Métro Robespierre. Dans un lycée pour filles au Kenya, pays où la majorité des filles n’ont pas accès à l’éducation et sont victimes d’inégalité sociale et économique, une série de portraits intimistes et pleins [...]

Peace Day Philly, a regional celebration of the International Day of Peace, September 21, has invited Graceland Girls to screen as part of their Global Awareness Films Series, “Films at the Fish.” This worldwide day of ceasefire and non violence can have a significant positive impact in the Philadelphia region through the active involvement of individuals, groups, organizations and neighborhoods. GLOBAL AWARENESS FILMS – FILMS AT THE FISH: SEPTEMBER 6 – OCTOBER 4, 2013: Every Wednesday – Saturday at 8 [...]

Graceland Girls has been chosen as an Official Selection at the 4th Annual Awareness Film, Art & Music Festival, July 25 – 28 in Santa Monica!  The film is scheduled to screen on July 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Promenade Playhouse, 1404 3rd St Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401. The mission of the Awareness Film Festival to gain a clearer understanding of our world’s pressing issues: Ecological, Political, Health/Well Being and the Spirit. The festival showcases both Documentary and Narrative Features, as well as [...]