Movie Screening and Discussion at the PNA - "Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth"

Lives of Immigrant and Refugee Youth Explored in film Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth
April 3, 3pm at Phinney Neighborhood Association

Cultural Engagement Film Series
Phinney Neighborhood Association

Sunday, April 3, 2011
3:00 to 5:00 pm, film screening 3 – 3:30 pm followed by a facilitated discussion
Community Hall, Brick Building, Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave North, Seattle, 98103

The Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) will host a screening of Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth on Sunday, April 3, 3 pm – 5 pm, in Community Hall in the Brick Building at the PNA, 6532 Phinney Ave North, Seattle, 98103. 206-783-2244. The 30-minute film will be followed by a facilitated discussion about the movie. There is limited seating for screenings and discussions, therefore, RSVPs are encouraged. Please contact Katie Parker at katiep@phinneycenter.org.

The lives and challenges of immigrants and refugees is the focus of Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth, which chronicles the lives of refugee youth in Washington State. Shot and edited by documentary filmmaker Jill Freidberg of Corrugated Films, the film features interviews with four youth from Burma, Nepal/Bhutan, Russia, and Somalia. Each youth shares stories, experiences, struggles and successes about life before and after resettling in the United States. In addition, viewers will learn about the circumstances that brought the youth and their families to the area, their initial resettlement experience, and ongoing challenges they face. This event is timely for several reasons. Immigration is a controversial topic in our society and the Census report shows a dramatic increase in minority and immigrant and refugee population in the region. The goal of the discussion is to spark deeper conversations about how the community can understand and support refugee students and families.

The Cultural Engagement Film Series presents screenings and discussions with a focus on racial and social justice issues. The film series explores society’s social institutions and how systems and behavior perpetuate and reinforce discriminatory practices and inequities. Through screenings and facilitated discussions, the PNA intends to build a comfortable community space for education and thought – provoking conversations about important social topics.