STUDENT DIVERSITY EDUCATION PROGRAM

As part of the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, the American Jewish Committee is pleased to present FILMTalks!, a unique student prejudice-reduction education program, free to area high school students.

Designed to stimulate thought and generate discussion, FILMTalks! challenges youth to confront prejudice and combat bigotry. Bringing together 600 students from public and private schools, FILMTalks! gives participants the opportunity to begin developing the skills necessary to enhance inter-group communication, to promote intercultural understanding, and to foster respect for diversity in their schools and in our community.

The goal of FILMTalks! is to use film as a vehicle to engage students in discussions on issues of bigotry, intolerance and prejudice. Through film students will be given the opportunity to find their voice on these issues in a hands-on, participatory, creative and non-threatening manner. The program will encompass both a "town hall meeting" and small discussion groups. All small discussion groups will be lead by peer facilitators. A group of students from participating high schools will be trained as the peer facilitators for this event. These students will participate in a series of trainings to prepare them for the FILMTalks! program.

For more information or to enroll your school in FILMTalks!, please contact Ilana Cone, FILMTalks! Coordinator at 206-622-6315.