ERIE, Pa. (September 24, 2014) — Woodrow Wilson Middle School’s seventh annual Community Night on Wednesday, October 29 will feature Melvin Logan and Tiffony Jacobs of the Freedom Writers Foundation as keynote speakers. This event is sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson Middle School Bully Prevention Committee, Title I, and College for Every Student (CFES) programs. It will be held in the Woodrow Wilson Middle School auditorium at 718 East 28th Street. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. and the program begins at 5:45 p.m.

The Freedom Writers was started in 1997 by Erin Gruwell, a teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. She was challenged by a room of students considered to be “unteachable” and adapted her curriculum to engage her students and encourage them to rethink rigid beliefs about themselves and others. One of those students, Melvin Logan, was kicked out of two schools for fighting and had been written off by most of his teachers.  Melvin believed he was destined to fail. He joined a local gang and began a life of drugs and alcoholism. Erin Gruwell showed Melvin the value of an education, challenged him every day, and refused to accept failure. He rose to the challenge, became a member of student council, a captain on the school’s football team, and graduated as an honor roll student. Melvin went on to attend Long Beach City College and California State University of Long Beach.

In her sophomore year, Tiffony Jacobs also became one of Ms. Gruwell’s students. Being in Ms. G’s class offered a relief from her home, which was chaotic. Her parents physically abused each other and their children. When she discovered books, they became her refuge from the violence and chaos she experienced at home. Tiffony graduated from Wilson High School in 1998.  She then earned a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Long Beach in 2006.

The Freedom Writers Diary, published in 1999, features the real-life journal entries by the original students of Erin Gruwell and limited copies will be available for sale before and after the program. Childcare services will also be available during the keynote speakers’ presentations. Dinner an auction will also follow the event.

The program is free and open to the public; however, dinner reservations are required and can be made by emailing mpeck@eriesd.org or by calling Woodrow Wilson Middle School at (814) 874-6605.