The Courage to Connect with Erin Gruwell & The Freedom Writers

Critical Conversations @Soka kicked off the academic year with the October 3rd program “The Courage to Connect,” featuring the inspiring and beloved educational leader Erin Gruwell. She appeared onstage with three of the original student Freedom Writers, celebrating the 20th anniversary publication of their New York Times bestselling book, The Freedom Writers Diary.

Many may remember Erin as the idealistic 23-year-old English teacher at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, who was confronted with a room of “unteachable, at-risk” students. Determined to make a difference, Erin helped 150 students change the course of their lives by connecting across cultures and continents and writing about it. Armed with pens and notebooks, the Freedom Writers challenged themselves and the education system to stop ignoring them. Their story resulted in the popular book, a Hollywood movie starring Hilary Swank, and a PBS documentary released this year.

Erin is also founder of The Freedom Writers Foundation, whose mission is to advocate for all students and teachers by providing tools that facilitate studentcentered learning, improve overall academic performance, and increase teacher retention.

Anna Lane, a member of the Soka Master’s program in Educational Leadership & Societal Change, introduced the event, reminiscing, “I remember watching the movie about Erin and the Freedom Writers when I was in college to become a teacher. I watched it alone, and remember crying and feeling so encouraged to pursue my dream of fighting for social justice in education, which eventually brought me here to study at Soka.”

Lane added that Erin’s “work aligns so much with the spirit of our university founder, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, who shares with us about developing the ability to connect beyond gender, class, race, and nationality. Doing this is no easy task. It takes self-reflection, courage, and the determination to engage in dialogue.”

In addition to meeting Erin, the audience enjoyed the reflections of three of the original Freedom Writers, Kanya Sim, Shanita Jones, and Shanate Jones. Following the event, many audience members stayed to have books and programs autographed.

“Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers taught me that it is important to never give up on anyone,” said Lane. “As educators, we have a responsibility to try and bring hope to students and to not be discouraged by the immediate environment or circumstance we are faced with.”

The next Critical Conversations @Soka will be held on February 19, 2020 and will feature Karamo Brown of the popular show Queer Eye, on the topic “Queer Eye Your Life.”