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Media Release

September 26, 2006

KLRU launches community engagement film series to focus on issues of importance in the African American community

This fall, KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, will launch a free three-part film series called Echoes of Color to provide a forum on issues of particular concern to the African American community. Participants will watch films together and then be able to examine issues, engage in dialogue with others who share these concerns, and be given opportunities for hands-on problem solving through “neighboring” and volunteer activities.

The first event is a preview screening of The Boys of Baraka on Tuesday, October 17 at 6 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center located at 1165 Angelina Street.

The Boys of Baraka tells the story of a group of middle school boys from inner city Baltimore who are selected to attend boarding school in rural Kenya, East Africa.  The film examines how the experience inspires the boys’ hopes and dreams.  Following the film, Dr. Donetta Goodall, Vice President of Austin Community College, will moderate a public forum discussing education in Austin and the role of family in encouraging academic achievement. Additionally, a blog (echoesofcolor.org) will extend the discussion. The Boys of Baraka will premier on KLRU November 6 at 10 p.m.

KLRU has partnered with several other community organizations to make Echoes of Color possible. They include:  Hands On Central Texas (a program of United Way Capital Area), the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, and the Austin Area Heritage Council. The film series continues on January 10, 2007 and April 10, 2007 and will explore other topics that affect African Americans in the Austin area.  More information about these events will be announced in 2007.

Each year KLRU conducts six to ten community engagement projects similar to Echoes of Color. As one of the largest non-profit organizations in Central Texas, KLRU forms long-term partnerships to bring diverse people and interests together to build a stronger community. The station’s community engagement efforts range from advance screenings of local and national programs with post-viewing discussion groups to creating a diabetes awareness campaign around a popular PBS program to convening forums on important community issues to coordinating statewide promotional efforts for caregiver support.

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, reflects, celebrates and inspires Central Texas through creative excellence,
community engagement and lifelong learning. Although primarily a television station providing locally produced and quality national programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community outreach projects and public events. Get more information about KLRU at klru.org.

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