First Unitarian Society in Newton is sponsoring a community screening of the documentary film BULLY. The event is free. Pre-registration is strongly recommended (space is limited). A facilitated discussion about the film will directly follow the screening.

This year, over 13 million American kids will be bullied at school, online, on the bus, at home, through their cell phones and on the streets of their towns, making it the most common form of violence young people in this country experience. BULLY, a documentary film directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker Lee Hirsch, shows the human side to this startling statistic, offering an intimate, unflinching look at how bullying has touched five kids and their families. Filmed over the course of the 2009/2010 school year, BULLY opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. Join us to view the film and to discuss the vital role we can all play in addressing this crisis.

NOTE:  Children are welcome, but please note that the film is rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, disturbing content and some strong language.
 Childcare is available for children whose parents want to view the film, but requires an email by October 25th to rviscomi@post.harvard.edu specifying the names and ages of the children.

Please RSVP using the following link:
http://www.thebullyproject.com/rviscomi/bully_community_screening_and_dialogue

Friday, November 1st, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
First Unitarian Society in Newton
1326 Washington Street, Newton

The Busing and desegregation era in Boston was a watershed moment in our city’s history. The violence that met desegregation here was a shock to the nation as it clashed with Boston’s image and identity as a liberal-minded city.

Can We Talk? is a film by media producer Scott Mercer. The film was commissioned by Union of Minority Neighborhoods (UMN) to capture some on the voices that motivated UMN to begin the Boston Busing and Desegregation Project which looks at the impact that the Brown vs. the Board of education ruling had on the state of public education today.

The film offers powerful stories of the 1970’s busing/desegregation crisis that changed Boston forever. Most of those in the film have never publicly shared their stories. It aspires to prompt a long-overdue honest conversation about public education and racism, classism, and social injustices that have plagued not only the Boston public schools, but the city of Boston as a community.

Come meet UMN’s Donna Bivens and Executive Director Horace Small and hear their reflections on this project and watch a 20 minute clip of this powerful film.  What was your experience of the busing and desegregation era in Boston?  Please join us.

Thursday, October 10th, 7:30-9:00 pm
First Unitarian Society of Newton