USU Invites All to 'A Night with Erin Gruwell: The Freedom Writers Diary'

Utah State University’s Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services presents “A Night with Erin Gruwell: The Freedom Writers Diary” Wednesdy, April 25, at 7 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center Stevenson Ballroom on the USU campus. Admission is free and all attendees are asked to bring one can of food to donate to the local food bank.

Gruwell has earned an award-winning reputation for her steadfast commitment to the future of education. In January 2007, Paramount Pictures released Freedom Writers, starring two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as Gruwell. The film is based on The Freedom Writers Diary, the New York Times bestseller that chronicled Gruwell’s extraordinary journey with 150 high school students who had been written off by the education system.

“She is a dedicated teacher who put forth her own money to give her students a better education,” said Becky Checketts, USU Education senator. “Through her effort and compassion, she created brighter futures for her students.”

By fostering an educational philosophy that valued and promoted diversity, Gruwell transformed her students’ lives. She encouraged them to re-think rigid beliefs about themselves and others, reconsider daily decisions and ultimately re-chart their futures. The students dubbed themselves the “Freedom Writers” in homage to civil rights activists The Freedom Riders and published a book.

Inspired by Anne Frank, Gruwell and her students captured their collective journey in The Freedom Writers Diary. Through poignant student entries and Gruwell’s narrative text, the book records their eye-opening, spirit-raising odyssey against intolerance and misunderstanding.

Gruwell founded the Freedom Writers Foundation where she currently teaches teachers around the country how to implement her innovative lesson plans into the classroom. Recently, Gruwell’s teaching methods from her time in Room 203 have been published in the Freedom Writers Diary Teacher’s Guide. Proceeds from the sale of all books directly fund the Freedom Writers Foundation.

Gruwell is a graduate of the University of California Irvine, where she received the Lauds and Laurels Distinguished Alumni Award. She earned a master’s and teaching credentials from California State University Long Beach.

A free showing of the movie Freedom Writers will be shown Friday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center Auditorium.

More information on the event is on Facebook.

Contact: Tyson Price, 435-797-1437, tyson.price@usu.edu