Cultural Center To Host Free Screening Of The Interrupters

By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 9, 2011 11:30PM

If you haven't seen The Interrupters yet, do so immediately. The Chicago Cultural Center will host a free screening of the film on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m., as part of the Women and Girls Lead Initiative. The Academy Awards just don't get it, but the rest of us do. This is a powerful film made by, for and about Chicagoans. Roger Ebert praised it, and Slate's Dana Stevens called it the most important film of the year.

Following the film, there will be a panel discussion chaired by WBEZ 91.5's Alison Cuddy, featuring one of the film's stars, CeaseFire Interrupter Ameena Matthews. Other panelists include Mariame Kaba from Project NIA, Shira Hassan from Young Women's Empowerment Project, Niambi Jaha-Echols from Camp Butterfly and Jaquanda Villegas and Jacinda Bullie, founders of Kuumba Lynx.

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington St., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m., ExploreChicago.org, Free

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago Foundation for Women, Kartemquin Films and WTTW Channel 11…

After the film screening, a group of women who mentor young people will be honored and join in a panel discussion moderated by WBEZ 91.5 FM’s Alison Cuddy. The honorees are Ameena Matthews, one of the interrupters featured in the film; Mariame Kaba from Project NIA; Shira Hassan from Young Women's Empowerment Project; Jaquanda Villegas and Jacinda Bullie, founders of Kuumba Lynx; and Niambi Jaha-Echols, founder of Camp Butterfly.