As we continue to engage with the issues of justice and mass incarceration illuminated by our Community Read Just Mercy, the Office of Advancement and Asian Student Alliance have collaborated to bring you a virtual event on Thursday, February 11, at 7 – 8pm EST! Any member of the Deerfield community is welcome— students, employees, and alumni.
Join us for a two-part virtual event: an on-demand screening of the documentary film Virtually Free and a live Q&A with Producer and Alumna Alexandra Blaney ’05 and Director André Robert Lee. This event is sponsored by the Deerfield Academy Project for Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability Fund established by the Class of 1964.
Note: this event is an especially exciting opportunity to gain insight on the career path of Deerfield alumna, Alex Blaney ’05!
What is the film Virtually Free about?
Virtually Free is a documentary about unlikely allies in Richmond, VA who partner to transform the juvenile justice system and stop mass incarceration. In the film, we meet Sid, Taee, and AR— three teens currently being held in a Richmond, VA detention center who are offered the chance to become activists speaking truth to power. Participating in a local arts organizations’ program— Performing Statistics— they are taught by different artists to deliver their powerful, authentic messages to the public, law enforcement, and government officials using their art, including a virtual reality jail cell they’ve helped create. Watch the two-minute trailer on YouTube!
How can you participate in this event?
The documentary Virtually Free will be available for you to watch between Sunday, February 7 – Sunday, February 14 right here, through the website Eventive. All you have to do is sign up for Eventive with your Deerfield email address!
The Eventive website is where students and employees can register to watch the 40-minute documentary AND join in on Thursday, February 11 from 7-8pm EST for the live Q&A.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, Mrs Hammond, or Andy Kim ’21. Hope you can make it!
Best,
Natasha