From The President's Desk

If you have not read the best-selling book "The Freedom Writers Diary" (1999) or seen the movie "Freedom Writers" (2007), which is based on the book, I highly encourage you to do so. In a nutshell, the story is about an idealistic new teacher, Erin Gruwell, who steps into a classroom of freshmen students who are labeled unteachable and dangerous, with no chance of graduating. Quickly assessing that her curriculum of Homer and Shakespeare will fail to resonate with these students, she turns to stories and strategies that reach the students’ brokenness and pushes them to the healing power of writing. The diary entries these students write for her class were compiled and became the book, "The Freedom Writers Diary." In addition to the book and film, the Freedom Writers’ story has been featured nationally in news stories including: "Primetime Live", "Good Morning America", "People" and the PBS Documentary, "Stories from the Heart." Honestly, the story almost seems too good to be true. I thought no one could sustain the optimism and energy of Hillary Swank’s portrayal of Erin Gruwell in the film. But then I met Erin, and realized that, if anything, Hillary Swank underplayed the role. Erin’s passion for students is relentless, and her ability to connect with anyone in just a few moments is unlike anything I have ever witnessed. Erin now runs the Freedom Writers Foundation that coordinates outreach programs in schools throughout the United States, inspiring students and teachers alike. The Foundation also sponsors a week-long Freedom Writers Teacher Institute. This is where I met the original Freedom Writers, whose stories I had read in the book and lives I had watched portrayed in the film. Now adults in their 30s, they continue to inspire by telling stories of challenge, perseverance, determination, and hope. While all of Ms. G’s (as her students call her) 150 students graduated high school in 1998, not all of them were able to attain their dream of a college education. This is where Waldorf comes into the Freedom Writers’ story. Since meeting Erin in 2018, we have been working together to navigate a path to a baccalaureate degree for these Freedom Writers. This dream became a reality this January when Erin, now an adjunct professor for Waldorf University, taught the first Waldorf class for these Freedom Writers. Pictured above with original Freedom Writers, you can see Erin Gruwell in the top left square; Waldorf faculty and Freedom Writer Teacher, Dr. Freda Braddock, in the top right square; and yours truly with the red shirt and a big smile. In the following term, Freedom Writer Teachers, who have been through the Institute, will also be taking classes with the Freedom Writers and collaborating on a new book to be published later this year. These Freedom Writers and Teachers are now a part of our Warrior nation! I call them Freedom Warriors! This is just one more powerful way Waldorf‘s community is transforming lives through education. Sincerely,

Dr. Robert A. Alsop Waldorf University President