Dear , 

Please join us Tuesday, February 6th at 5:30 p.m. for a special sneak peak screening of two important short documentaries which are scheduled to be released later in 2024: LUNA, and MACKENZIE, by Straight Up Films, from their award winning docu-series Meaning in Madness. Discussion and Q&A will follow with 3 of the filmmakers in person, as well as experts and people who were featured from the films via zoom. If you arrive by 6:30 you'll still be on time for the film screenings. 

Straight Up Films mission uses storytelling to create thought-provoking content that appeals to human emotions, shifts perspectives and inspires positive change.

The alarming mental health crisis in this country today of  anxiety, depression and suicide among young adults and teens is addressed in Meaning in Madness. This docu-series serves as a call to action, motivating individuals to join the collective effort to provide hope, create a more compassionate society and inspire enduring change.  

The Films

MACKENZIE addresses the effect high pressure schools and prescription drugs are having on our children. Trailer

LUNA - Mental Health Crisis highlights the issue of overprescribing children’s psychiatric medication with no end in sight. Trailer 

Bios for the award-winning filmmakers and Straight Up Impact Co-Founders  MARISA POLVINO,  KATE COHEN, PAM ROY,  are here. 
 

Expert Elliot Washor, Ed.D., co-founded Big Picture Learning, B-Unbound, and The Met Center 
Elliot has been involved in school reform for over 50 years as a teacher, principal, administrator, and writer. He has taught and is interested in all school levels, from kindergarten through college, in urban and rural settings, across all disciplines. His work has spanned school design, pedagogy, learning environments, new forms, and new measures for learning, and he is supporting others doing similar work worldwide. Elliot’s interests lie in how schools can connect with communities to enhance learning both in and outside of school, especially for those youth living in communities furthest from opportunity. Elliot was selected as one of the Twelve Most Daring Educators in the World by the George Lucas Educational Foundation. His latest book is Learning to Leave: How Real-World Learning Transforms Education.

Forward this Newsletter and Spread the Word! 

Time/Agenda: 

5:30 pm: Meet, network, & socialize, buy Raffle tickets

RAFFLE! - NEW Health BOOKS AND ALL KINDS OF NEW ITEMS (including Fire Cider, a Homemade Organic Chocolate Cake and cake stand)!

6:00 pm: Denise Young will give community updates & news

6:10 Community Announcements 

6:20 pm: Screening LUNA 

6:50 pm: Screening MACKENZIE

7:25 pm: Q&A

8:15pm: Raffle  

New Facebook Group

We created a new invitation-only private facebook group. We are not entirely happy with this option given Facebook's regressive policies, however at this time it is the easiest way that you can view our events and related community events in an organized way, and we can all  keep track of and organize information,  for you to share your thoughts and events. If you want to join, please email us here and we will send you a time-sensitive link to join.