Escritores De La Libertad -

An exercise where students pledged to leave their past behind and start fresh.

A visual activity that demonstrated how much common ground the students actually shared, despite their different backgrounds. Escritores de la Libertad

In 1994, Gruwell was assigned a class of "at-risk" students who had been largely written off by the educational system. The classroom was a microcosm of the racial tension and gang violence prevalent in Los Angeles following the 1992 riots. Her students—divided by race and ethnicity—initially met her with hostility and indifference, seeing her as an outsider who couldn't possibly understand their lived realities. The Pedagogical Turning Point An exercise where students pledged to leave their

Gruwell provided each student with a journal to write about their daily lives, fears, and hopes anonymously. This allowed them to process their trauma through the "power of words". Personal Sacrifice and Global Impact The classroom was a microcosm of the racial

Against all odds, all 150 of her students graduated from high school, with many becoming the first in their families to attend college.

El diario de los escritores de la libertad/ The Freedom Writers Diary

The movement evolved into a non-profit organization that continues to provide educators with tools to reach marginalized youth.