Plainfield filmmaker returns to deliver a 'promise' to area youth

A press release just in from Lamar Mackson, community activist and chairperson of Plainfield Cable TV Advisory Board --

PLAINFIELD FILMAKER RETURNS TO DELIVER A "PROMISE" TO AREA YOUTH

Plainfield native and film director, Alrick Brown, will be the featured speaker at the Plainfield PAL Youth Exposure event entitled Plainfield's Promise scheduled for Saturday October 30, 2010. The event, which is part of an on-going series, is a mentoring program for middle school students established in Plainfield, NJ. Mentees are students at local middle schools and mentors are recent college graduates who want to give back to the community. The mission is to empower youth, ages 12-14, to strive for high levels of success through pursuit of education, leadership development and community service.

As a graduate of Plainfield High School, Rutgers and NYU, Brown, always had the desire to tell the stories that would contribute to the healing of his community. His perspective as a filmaker and teacher were influenced during a two year period as volunteer in the Peace Corps serving the people of Cote d' Iviore ( the Ivory Coast) in West Africa. Interactions with the people of West Africa and Plainfield have informed his creative expression; an expression first fostered by his birth in Kingston, Jamaica and migration to, and upbringing in Plainfield, New Jersey.

Brown's first feature length film, “Kinyarwanda” is a story about life, love, and forgiveness during the Rwandan Genocide. Set during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, as the country became a slaughterhouse, mosques became places of refuge where Muslims and Christians, came together to protect each other. "Kinyarwanda" interweaves six tales that provide a complex and real depiction of life and human resilience in the face of unimaginable danger. The film, which was shot on location in Africa, has already received critical acclaim at film festivals including IFP's Rooftop Film Series.

Alrick Brown's commitment to give back to his hometown and its youth, as well as his academic and professional successes, are primary reasons for him being chosen by the organization to make the presentation. Plainfield PAL Youth Exposure Organizer , Lucy Sanchez (Abreu) stated, " Alrick's core values and demonstration of those ideals is the message we need to promote to young people in Plainfield. Our children need access to examples of homegrown success. We are very excited about Alrick's appearance."

Plainfield's Promise- Plainfield PAL Youth Exposure Summit is Saturday, October 30th 2010,11am -2pm at Washington School, 427 Darrow Ave. Plainfield ,NJ. Admission is free.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT LUCY SANCHEZ AT Lsanchez100@hotmail.com