Freedom Writer Maria Reyes to Keynote 27th Annual Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program

Freedom Writer Maria Reyes will share the significant impact Holocaust education had on her life at ADL’s 27th Annual Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program on Wednesday, April 30.

In high school, third-generation gang member Reyes, who had not yet read a book cover-to-cover, was required to read The Diary of Anne Frank after her teacher discovered that most of the students had never heard of the Holocaust. Inspired by Anne Frank’s story, Reyes and her peers began to share their own stories through anonymous journals. Through their writing, they confronted their own biases and prejudices and began to question their own hateful stereotypes. Dubbed “Freedom Writers” in homage to the Civil Rights activists the “Freedom Riders,” this class, labeled “un-teachable, below average, and delinquent,” became a closely-knit, motivated and successful family. Their journal entries were later published as The Freedom Writers Diary and highlighted in Paramount Studio’s powerful movie, Freedom Writers.

The April 30th event begins at 6:00 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The event is free, but tickets are required. To RSVP and for more information, please call 303-830-7177 ext. 214 or email Denver@ADL.org by April 18th.