Film Screening & Discussion - Brooklyn Castle

When: Thursday, March 27
Place: Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA
Tickets:  http://nisce-brooklyncastle.eventbrite.com/?aff=listings

Winner of the Audience Award at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival “Brooklyn Castle”
tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a
below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more
national championships than any other in the country. The film follows
the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the
chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is
about the anticipation of their victories.

Through the
inspirational stories of its characters, “Brooklyn Castle” illustrates
that the “extra” in extra curricular activities are not “extra —they are
essential to the teaching of what Principal Rubino calls “the whole
child.” As Patrick’s story vividly demonstrates, programs like the chess
team can be an indispensible way to open the door for all kinds of
learning.

According to a study conducted by the Afterschool
Alliance and sponsored by the JCPenny Afterschool Fund, each afternoon
across the U.S., 15 million children–more than a quarter of our
children–are alone and unsupervised after school. The parents of 18
million would enroll their children in an afterschool program, if one
were available. Research continues to show that after school programs
and enrichment activities improves student engagement and learning,
improves test scores,  and helps to lower the achievement gap.

After
the film, Melina O’Grady, Ed.M., Education Consultant, will reflect on
the film’s message and lead a discussion with the audience. Melina has
over 20 years experience working with youth and youth programs in Boston
and San Francisco, focusing her work on arts education, adjudicated
youth, girls programming and afterschool education.