19 children, 2 teachers – killed in yet another episode of gun violence that has become all too common. This endless tide of racial hate and gun violence continues to take the lives of innocent Americans across the nation. The shootings targeting communities of color in Buffalo, Dallas, and now Uvalde, Texas must stop. This week’s mass shooting at a Texas elementary school – following the Buffalo mass shooting from two weeks ago resulting in deaths of 10 predominantly older victims – is a harsh reminder that our country has failed to protect the most vulnerable among us. We offer our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting. We demand that our elected officials at all levels of government work together to take immediate action to protect Americans in their daily lives.
“The Learning” Coming to POV
AABANY was one of the Community Partners for the screening of the documentary “The Learning” at the Asian American International Film Festival, now in its 34th year. The seemingly endless rain did not dissuade the hearty souls who came out on a damp Sunday afternoon to see the film, showing at the Clearview Chelsea Cinema on West 23rd Street.
The film chronicles a year in the lives of four Filipino women who are recruited to teach in the schools of Inner City Baltimore. They leave behind their entire families, friends and loved ones to pursue opportunities that are open to them in America, enduring the challenges of a different place and culture, and reaping the benefits and consequences of their choices. The film is at once sad and funny, disturbing and enlightening. The film succeeds in drawing the viewer into the lives of each of the teachers and revealing the stark contrast of their lives here and back home in the Philippines.
If you missed the screening, make sure to catch it on POV on PBS, on September 20. Check your local listings.