Plainfield PAL’s Youth Exposure program will host its first annual “Plainfield’s Promise” speaker series event with film director Alrick Brown today at 11:00 AM at Washington Community School.
Alrick will show clips from his soon-to-be released movie Kinyarwanda, a tale about the complexities in Rwanda during the era of war and genocide. He will also share his insight regarding his journey to success.
This event is co-sponsored by Wazito Freestyle, Omega Psi Phi Omicron Chapter, Tiaras to Crowns and Mother to Son. Performances will be made by En Pointe School of Dance and the Wazito Freestyle karate school as well. Local residents and film enthusiasts are invited to attend this exclusive and FREE event.
This event is geared to showcase success stories with Plainfield roots that have made, and continue to make, an impact on the community locally and globally. In addition, an invitation has been extended to local youth and community organizations to collectively “protect our youth, provide for our youth and prepare our youth.” Hence, on the stage and in the audience, organizations will be partnering to make a difference for the youth in Plainfield with our combined resources and wealth of knowledge.
Alrick Brown’s collective work has screened in over forty film festivals, national and international, and received numerous awards. He has written, directed, and produced narrative films and documentaries often focusing on social issues affecting the world at large. He and his co-producer received the HBO 'Life Through Your Lens' Emerging Filmmaker Award to produce their critically acclaimed documentary Death of Two Sons.
In 2004, Alrick was one of four NYU students featured in the IFC Documentary series Film School, produced by Academy award nominee Nannette Burstein. In 2007 he addressed the Motion Picture Association of America on C-SPAN. In 2009, he directed his first stage play “A Raisin in the Sun,” produced and presented at Plainfield's YWCA. At present, he is in post-production on his first feature film, Kinyarwanda, shot on location in Rwanda, and writing a feature thriller titled, The Shadows.
Alrick is a native of Kingston, Jamaica and was raised in Plainfield, where he graduated from PHS in 1994. A fluent French speaker, he has two degrees from Rutgers University -- a BA in English and a Masters in Education. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Côte d’Ivoire. He has a MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Plainfield PAL’s 'Youth Exposure' is a mentoring and enrichment program for Plainfield middle school students. Founded in 2007, Youth Exposure’s mission is to empower middle school students, encouraging them to strive for high levels of success through pursuit of education, leadership development and community service. Mentees are youth, ages 11-14, enrolled in the Plainfield School District. Mentors are young professionals who are dedicated to their community. Youth Exposure’s vision is to create a village of supporters for these students by organizing a locally-based network of mentors and like-minded peers. Through mentoring, tutoring, exposure to new activities, and support for scholarships and job opportunities, Youth Exposure provides a wide net of guidance and avenues for personal enhancement.
Youth Exposure is able to offer this program at minimal cost to community members through Plainfield Police Athletic League (PAL). Plainfield PAL is proud to announce a grant award in the amount of $20,580.00 in support of the Youth Exposure Program for the 2010-2011 program period.
Funding has been made possible in part by a sub-grant from the Police Athletic League of New Jersey Afterschool Initiatives, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Washington Community School is a key partner with Youth Exposure, offering space and support for our activities.
Youth Exposure meets every other Saturday at Washington Community School from 9 AM to 2 PM, unless there is a scheduled trip. There is a one-time fee of $50.00 per student for participating (scholarships are available). Transportation and admission fees for all trips are free-of-cost. Breakfast and lunch is provided. There is limited enrollment. For more information, visit the program's website at www.youthexposure.org/ or send an email to youthexposure@gmail.com.
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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