This is Esperanza Rivera introducing President Barack Obama at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago. Esperanza, a longtime student at 826CHI, was the first delegate named to the International Congress of Youth Voices, and her poise and authenticity in introducing the President were pretty astounding — especially considering Esperanza is only 15. The President and I had to ask each other, What were we doing at 15? The answer was Nothing remotely close to that. Thank you Esperanza and congratulations. More about the Obama Foundation to come. -D.E.
TO BE DESTROYED | WORLD PREMIERe!
To Be Destroyed is a documentary that follows author Dave Eggers as he meets with students and teachers in the Rapid City, SD school district where his novel The Circle was pulled from shelves along with works by Alison Bechdel, Stephen Chbosky, Bernardine Evaristo and Imbolo Mbue. Through footage of heated school board meetings, community rallies and interviews with locals, we learn how these books were designated “to be destroyed."
This film will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Learn more and buy tickets here!