SPEAKERS

A recent college graduate, Erin Gruwell landed her first job at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, only to discover many of her students had been written off by the education system and deemed "unteachable." As teenagers living in a racially divided urban community, they were hardened by first-hand exposure to gang violence, juvenile detention, and drugs. With Erin's steadfast support, her students shattered stereotypes to become critical thinkers, aspiring college students, and citizens for change. They even dubbed themselves the "Freedom Writers" and published a book. Erin and her students captured their collective journey in The Freedom Writers Diary – How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them. Currently, Erin serves as president of the Freedom Writers Foundation. Erin and her students have appeared on numerous television shows, including Oprah, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Prime Time Live with Connie Chung, Barbara Walters' The View, Good Morning America, and CSPAN's Book TV. Her class has been featured on National Public Radio and in national newspapers and People magazine. Paramount Pictures released "Freedom Writers" in January 2007, a film based on this remarkable story featuring Hilary Swank as Erin.

Erin is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, where she received the Lauds and Laurels Distinguished Alumni Award. She earned her Master's Degree and teaching credentials from California State University, Long Beach, where she was honored as Distinguished Alumna by the School of Education.