NAACP National Convention

July 15th- The NAACP holds their 106th National Convention in Philadelphia, PA. It was an honor to have a special screening of Rosenwald for convention attendees, only hours after President Obama spoke at the convention. Board member and rabbi David Saperstein, former NAACP chair Julian Bond, and Aviva Kempner appeared on a panel after the screening. Many members of the audience were reminiscing about attending the Rosenwald Schools. Convention attendees might have recognized a familiar face in the film, as an interview with former NAACP head, Ben Jealous, is shown. The film also contains interviews with many prominent African American figures and activists.

Pictured (left to right): Rabi David Saperstein, Julian Bond, and Aviva Kempner

Screening at the Center for Jewish History

On July 19th a sneak peak of Rosenwald was shown at the Center for Jewish History. This screening was timed to coincide with part of “Allied in the Fight” a new exhibit at the Center, intended to “recount the efforts made by American Jews and African Americans to fight for the fundamental American promise of equality before and during the Civil Rights era.” Joining the discussion after the film was Aviva Kempner and Rabbi David Saperstein.

Pictured (left to right): Julian Bond, Pam Horowitz, Aviva Kempner, Maxim Thorne
Pictured (left to right): Julian Bond, Aviva Kempner, Eli Evans (interviewee), Dr. Hasia Diner (interviewee), speaking after the screening of the film.

MARCH ON IN TO YOUR LOCAL THEATRE AUGUST 14, 2015!

Aviva Kempner and her crew took to the streets on July 4 to raise awareness about her upcoming film, Rosenwald. Marching with Councilwoman Mary Cheh in the Palisades Parade, the team handed out fliers and lollipops to the many spectators who line the streets annually to view the parade. Thankfully it didn’t “rain on our parade” as it had been expected to. Rosenwald opens in theatres August 14 so be sure to check your local listings and march on in to the theatre nearest you!

Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

Race relations have been a tense topic since the inception of the United States. From 200 years of slavery, to race riots in major cities, and overall institutionalized discrimination, race relations is a touchy subject. Recent shootings of unarmed African Americans across the United States serve as a reminder to both past and present atrocities. So when and how do we talk about race? Meghan Leahy, a parenting coach, emphasizes the need to immediately begin talking to children about race. Although this can be difficult, Leahy points out that the purpose of talking to children is to open a dialogue, where the sharing of ideas is encouraged. Leahy suggests that conversations begin as early as age 2 and that continued efforts to make clear both the history and prevalence of racism are required to get to the root of the problem. The discomfort and hushed tones traditionally involved in race discussions must be overcome. To read more about this topic, click here.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/we-need-to-deal-with-our-discomfort-and-talk-to-our-kids-about-racism/2015/06/30/ec6db7e8-1a9a-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html