![]() The College’s single-gender environment has been proven, in study after study, to foster confidence, ethical leadership, and strong academic success. The event is co-sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana and the following Saint Mary’s organizations, centers, and offices: the Education Club, the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership, the Office for Civic and Social Engagement, Student Involvement and Multicultural Services, and the Student Government Association.Ībout Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. She also authored her memoir, Teach with Your Heart. Her teaching methods have also been published in the Freedom Writers Diary Teacher’s Guide, with proceeds funding the foundation. ![]() Gruwell founded the Freedom Writers Foundation where she teaches teachers around the country how to implement her innovative lesson plans into their classrooms. The Freedom Writers Diary itself was inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank and chronicles the students’ journey against intolerance and misunderstanding. Her students called themselves the Freedom Writers - in homage to the civil rights activists the Freedom Riders - and published a book. With her support, they left behind futures that could have included teen pregnancy, drugs, and violence to become aspiring college students, published writers, and citizens for change. (To download a copy of The Status of Girls in Indiana report, go to: /StatusOfGirls)Īs a high school English teacher in Long Beach, Calif., Gruwell encouraged her students to rethink rigid beliefs about themselves and others, reconsider daily decisions, and ultimately transform their futures. The report exposes that many Hoosier girls suffer from low self-esteem, are victims of abuse, struggle with poverty, and seemingly lose confidence in subjects like math and science in high school. We also value the idea of partnering with local high school student and teacher leaders, especially after the awareness of needs gained from our recent report on The Status of Girls in Indiana.” Saint Mary’s released The Status of Girls in Indiana 2013 report last month, which focuses on Hoosier girls 10 to 19. She added, “We are excited about the groups of students on campus who might be inspired by this event to find their own role in working against intolerance. ![]() There was serendipity in that the Saint Mary’s Education Club had wanted to bring Gruwell to the College.” International Day of Tolerance, with Erin Gruwell as the keynote speaker. “After living in a very culturally diverse and accepting community for most of my life, it came as a big shock to me that some places were still fighting racial stereotypes,” Laiman said.Įlaine Meyer-Lee, director of the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership at Saint Mary’s College, said, “We were impressed with Katie’s very articulate vision to hold an event celebrating the U.N. She had heard Gruwell speak before and wanted to bring her here, but she needed sponsorship and assistance. Laiman moved to the South Bend area last year and found it to be less diverse and accepting than her hometown in southern California. Her project’s focus was to create an event promoting tolerance and diversity. Penn High School sophomore Katie Laiman approached the College with her idea to bring Gruwell to South Bend as her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The film is based on The Freedom Writers Diary, the NewYork Times bestseller that chronicled Gruwell’s journey with 150 high school students who had been written off by the education system. In 2007 Paramount Pictures released Freedom Writers, a movie starring two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as Gruwell. Her impact as an agent of change has attracted much attention, including that of Hollywood. Gruwell has earned an award-winning reputation for her steadfast commitment to the future of education which values and promotes diversity. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY TO EVENT TO GET A SEAT.) Gruwell will also sign copies of her book. Gruwell’s talk will take place following cultural performances by Saint Mary’s College students. The public is invited to this free event, which celebrates diversity and understanding and takes place on the United Nations International Day of Tolerance. 16 in Little Theatre, Moreau Center for the Performing Arts. Octo(Notre Dame, Ind.)-Saint Mary’s College is pleased to welcome Erin Gruwell, educator and founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, to speak about “Teaching Tolerance.” The event will begin at 10 a.m.
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