Freedom Writers: a Personal Odyssey

Erin Gruwell helped 150 of her students - many of whom were written off by the school system - to use the power of education to write a book, graduate from high school and attend college. In her inspiring presentation, Gruwell tells the story of this extraordinary journey. 

It's a journey from poverty and despair to hope and promise - with stops at Anne Frank's house and Auschwitz and then on to Capitol Hill and Congress. 

Erin challenged her students to overcome the seemingly insurmountable problems of poverty, racism and violence. How can we all become role models for tolerance, respect and cooperation? Erin Gruwell teaches us how we can all become "Catalysts for Change."