JUSTfilms: A fresh series of social justice films that will
educate, inspire, challenge, and move you to action.


Dreamcatcher

Thursday, February 16, 2017
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
The Eddy Theater

Cost: Free and open to the public

Film screening and panel discussion.

Dreamcatcher takes us into a hidden world through the eyes of one of its survivors; Brenda Myers-Powell. A former teenage prostitute who worked the streets of Chicago, Brenda defied the odds to become a powerful advocate for change in her community. With warmth and humour, Brenda gives hope to those who have none. Her story is their inspiration.

For twenty-five years Brenda Myers-Powell called herself ‘Breezy’ and she dominated her world, or that’s what she thought. It was a world that had turned her into a teenage, drug-addicted prostitute. After a violent encounter with a ‘john,’ Brenda woke up in the hospital and decided to change her life. Today she is a beacon of hope and a pillar of strength for hundreds of women and girls as young as fourteen who want to change their own lives. ‘Dreamcatcher’ explores the cycle of neglect, violence and exploitation which each year leaves thousands upon thousands of girls and women feeling that prostitution is their only option to survive.

Film screening followed by panel discussion and Q&A.

Panelists:

Dr. Robin P. Chapdelaine is an Assistant Professor at Duquesne University in the History Department and the Center for African Studies. She earned a Ph.D. in Women's and Gender history and African history at Rutgers University. Dr. Chapdelaine's research focuses on child trafficking in West Africa. Her work aims to encourage scholars and activists to seek out and understand the historical legacies that lead to current day child trafficking globally.

Elizabeth Echevarria is the President of Living in Liberty. She has worked in the non-profit world for over 20 years overseeing the human resource and financial management aspects of the various organizations. Elizabeth has a MS in Industrial and Labor Relations and has been certified through the Society for Human Resource Management as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) for more than 17 years. She completed ministry school at the RNE at Allison Park church in June of 2010. After completing Ministry School she founded Living in Liberty in February 2012 and has been actively serving and advocating for commercially sex trafficked women for over 12 years.

Moderator:
India Hunter, New Voices Pittsburgh, Public Ally Apprentice and community education coordinator.

Registration

Fee : Free and open to the public

Registration has closed. Please contact Melody Harris at m.harris@chatham.edu for additional information.

Location

The Eddy Theater


Directions

Parking is free in the Library Parking Lot which you can only enter off of Murray Hill Avenue (not to be confused with Murray Avenue).

Murray Hill Avenue can be reached from both Wilkins and Fifth Avenue and is a cobblestone street. From Fifth Ave, it is located between Maryland Ave and S. Negley Ave. From Wilkins, it is located between Murray Ave and S. Negley Ave.

Campus Map


Contact Information

Melody Harris
(412) 365-1578
m.harris@chatham.edu