Erin Gruwell & The Freedom Writers Present, Freedom Writers: Stories From An Undeclared War Film Screening, Q&a, And Book Signing

SAN DIEGO, Calif.: The University of San Diego will host a screening of the film, Freedom Writers: Stories From an Undeclared War, showcasing a group of students from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California and their teacher Erin Gruwell, presented by Ms. G herself (as her students affectionately called her), along with some of the original Freedom Writers. The film uncovers the events that led to the creation of the Freedom Writers Diary, a diary containing student journal entries detailing the hardships and struggles of living amongst racism and poverty, the story of which was later turned into a major Hollywood film starring Hillary Swank, 10 years ago in 2007.  Following the Los Angeles Riots, Gruwell and the students of Room 203 transformed themselves and their community, and Erin went on to found the Freedom Writers Foundation to support her students and pay homage to the name of the 1960s civil rights group Freedom Riders. Today, the Foundation carries their message of education and personal and social transformation, and multicultural humanistic education, across the world.

Who: Black Student Resource Center; Career Services Center; College of Arts & Sciences; Department of Anthropology; Department of Communication Studies;Department of English; Department of Ethnic Studies; Department of History; Department of Math; Department of Philosophy; Department of Sociology; Department of Theatre Arts; Department of Theology & Religious Studies; Humanities Center; Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice; Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies;Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness & Social Action; Residential Life; School of Leadership & Education Sciences; United Front Multicultural Center; University Ministry.

What: Erin Gruwell and the original Freedom Writers present Freedom Writers: Stories from an Undeclared War, screening, Q&A and book signing.

Where: Peace and Justice Theatre


Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice  

University of San Diego

5998 Alcalá Park

San Diego, CA 92110-2492

When: Thursday, December 7, 2017 6 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. 

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.