The Southport CoLAB Community Lecture Series to Host Fairfield County’s Sneak Peek Screening and Panel Discussion for ‘Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars’
March 28 2024 - 10:45AM
The Southport CoLAB, a resource providing quality education
training for professionals, educators, and families to affect
positive outcomes for people with language-based learning
differences such as dyslexia and attention issues, today announced
it will host a screening of the documentary “Hopeville: How to Win
the Reading Wars'' as its first Community Lecture Series event of
2024. The screening will take place Thursday, April 25, at 6:30
p.m. at the Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and serves as
the Fairfield County sneak peek of the film. A panel discussion
featuring Connecticut’s leading voices on literacy and learning
differences will immediately follow the screening.
In “Hopeville,” filmmaker Harvey Hubbell V illustrates what he
believes is the biggest solvable problem facing the U.S. –
illiteracy – and what can be done to implement change. The
documentary explores literacy in the U.S. and the solution of
implementing evidence-based reading instruction in classrooms
across the country. The film features several Connecticut-based
experts, including Dr. Benjamin N. Powers, founder and executive
director of The Southport CoLAB and The Southport School.
“Hopeville shines a light on a topic of critical importance and
should be required viewing for anyone with a passion for reading
and ensuring today’s children are getting the literacy education
they deserve,” said Dr. Powers. “The film expertly showcases the
importance of evidence-based teaching methods and the need for
educational environments where all children have the opportunity to
succeed. I’m honored to be a part of the documentary and am excited
for the screening and panel discussion. The journey towards a more
literate future is a collective one and ‘Hopeville’ is helping spur
a necessary dialogue."
The Bijou Theatre doors will open at 5:30 p.m. on April 25.
Cocktails will be available for purchase and complimentary light
refreshments will be served prior to the screening at 6:30 p.m. The
panel discussion following the film will be moderated by Hubbell
and will feature Powers; Dr. Augusto Buchweitz, associate professor
of psychology at University of Connecticut; Dr. Margie B. Gillis,
founder and president of Literacy How, Inc.; Stephanie Mitchell,
independent educational consultant; and Dena Mortensen, Ed.D.,
elementary reading and language arts supervisor for Waterbury
Public Schools.
“I look forward to the Fairfield County sneak peek of
‘Hopeville’ and hearing from panel participants,” said Hubbell,
whose media company, Captured Time Productions, is based in
Litchfield, Connecticut. “Making this film, I talked to scientists,
educators and parents, and we have evidence to show that, when
using the right teaching methods, we can drastically change the
course of literacy in America.”
Admission to the event is free, however registration is
required: https://e.givesmart.com/events/zx7/.
About The Southport CoLABThe Southport CoLAB
provides quality education training for professionals, educators,
and families. It integrates research, practice, and advocacy to
affect positive outcomes for people with language-based learning
differences, like dyslexia and attention issues. The Southport
CoLAB offers specialized training programs, including structured
literacy, executive functions, and assistive technology. Each helps
further a world that embraces cerebrodiverse learners for their
strengths and provides all teachers with training in best
educational practices and current research. To learn more, visit
www.southportcolab.org.
Media Contact Jennifer LeckstromRoseComm for
The Southport CoLABjleckstrom@rosecomm.com215-681-0770
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c1b6b4ed-e72f-4eac-985a-80c4c90c49a6