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 * Mover Name:** Erin Gruwell


 * Basic Work:** Former Teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California and current President of the Freedom Writers Foundation


 * Key Work:** Erin Gruwell based her work on a philosophy that promoted diversity between her students, meaning that she encouraged her students to get along and not judge each other based on race, gender or color. She was a big believer in celebrating the fact that there is a lot of diversity in the Long Beach high school. They read many interesting books such as //The Diary of Anne Frank// and //Zlata’s Diary: A Child’s Life in Sarajevo//. She encouraged her students to overcome the stereotypes they were labeled as and succeed in high school and eventually go on to college, which was unheard of for some of those families. She organized trips to Washington, D.C. and other important places and invited guest speakers for her students and even raised enough money to bring Zlata Filipovic over from another continent. Her and her students also were invited and appeared on many television shows, promoting their diversity and message across America. Currently, she is the President of the Freedom Writers Foundation, which she founded. She goes and speaks around the nation in government facilities and other places to promote positive diversity. She also speaks in schools and juvenile halls to give adolescents hope for their future.


 * Key Personnel:** Erin Gruwell’s students and help from important people like John Tu, Zlata Filipovic, Miep Gies, and former Secretary of Education Richard Riley caused the Freedom Writers to grow significantly over the years.


 * Why/How a mover?** Erin Gruwell was constantly encouraging her kids to do the best they could, such as shoot to go to college instead of just graduating high school and going on various trips to enhance their learning experience. She never gave up on any of them, as many students said in the book //Freedom Writers//, and they also described her as having unending energy and being spontaneous. These actions set an example for the Long Beach school and many others because many teachers took into consideration what Erin Gruwell did. Also, when she spoke at high schools through the Freedom Writers Foundation many students and teachers alike were influenced. The Freedom Writers Foundation helped many schools to realize that diversity is a good thing and there shouldn't be discrimination in the classrooms.

http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/site/c.kqIXL2PFJtH/b.2259975/k.BF19/Home.htm http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/site/c.kqIXL2PFJtH/b.2286935/k.AD6E/About_Erin_Gruwell.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Gruwell http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/freedomwriters.php
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