We Speak America

:: LA Debut of California Tomorrow’s Acclaimed Documentary ::

California Tomorrow would like to announce a preview screening of its documentary short, We Speak America, on Tuesday May 27th in Venice, CA. The film is nominated for Best Documentary at the Imagen Awards to be held on May 29th.

We Speak America quilts the diversity of our community and the importance of culture and language through interviews with people of color, including first and second generation minorities. The voices of Latinos, South and Eastern Asians, Africans, and Jewish Americans chorus the role of language in maintaining identity and culture, while also exploring the boundaries of acceptance and pride. The film captures the footsteps of a Bengali-American Kathak dancer, the verses of a Muslim-American poet, the pleas of Latino and Asian parents alike in strengthening their childrens’ ties to their roots. The increased emphasis our school systems should place on language and bilingualism is commonplace in the interviews across all ethnic backgrounds. Through voice and anecdote, California Tomorrow’s We Speak America effectively conveys the country’s diversity and rare encounter with universality in thought.

Screening Details:

Date: Tuesday, May 27th

Time: 7 pm

Location: SPARC (Social and Public Art Resource Center)

685 Venice Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291

(310) 822-9560

Free to the public.

Light refreshments will be served.

Film Backgrounder:

We Speak America is a thought provoking and honest exploration into the complexities of identity, immigration, culture, and language issues faced by parents, young adults, teachers and students. This video provides fresh and intergenerational perspectives.

We speak America features parents, and teachers speaking about the crucial need for children to be bilingual and the importance of a connection to their heritage. Young adults reflect on growing up in the midst of multiple cultures and the sometimes difficult journey in embracing their own culture and language. Through personal stories and anecdotes, We Speak America captures the significance of culture and language in the lives of all youth, and has been designed as the cornerstone for school and community dialogue.

About California Tomorrow:

Over the past 15 years, California Tomorrow has built a strong body of research and a national reputation for facilitating institutional change processes, including but not limited to inter-group relations, institutional oppression, equity and access. California Tomorrow works with schools, family-serving institutions, early childhood programs and communities to respond positively and equitably to diverse populations. The Oakland-based non-profit seeks to identify and design new models of practice for a diverse society -- and guide and support the work required to implement these models. To learn more about California Tomorrow, please visit www.californiatomorrow.org.

About the Imagen Foundation:

The Los Angeles based non-profit organization was founded by Helen Hernandez in 1985. The foundation’s mission is to: 1) encourage and recognize the positive portrayal of Latinos in media, and 2) increase Latino representation at all levels within the entertainment industry. The Imagen Foundation holds the annual Imagen Award competition, which presents awards in 23 different categories including Best Documentary, Best Student or Film Short, Best National and Local Informational Programming, Best Primetime Drama Series, and Best Children’s Animated and Non-Animated Programming. To learn more about the Imagen Foundation or its awards competition please visit www.imagen.org.