Illinois State University faculty, staff, students, and members of the Bloomington-Normal community are invited to attend a free showing of ACTIVIZED: It’s the American Thing to Do at the Normal Theater on Tuesday, February 25. The short film begins at 7 p.m.
ACTIVIZED is a new documentary that follows a handful of ordinary Americans who left their comfort zones and became involved in gun violence prevention, voting rights, and immigrants’ rights. The film weaves their personal stories against the backdrop of the causes they fight for, their motivations, successes and failures, their sacrifices, and their victories. It celebrates inspiring, courageous citizens for embracing one of the most basic of American traditions…dissent.
The screening, sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, is an advance preview of the documentary. The world premiere of ACTIVIZED is scheduled for late March in Texas.
Manuel Oliver in a still photo from the film.
“We hope this film inspires students and community members to learn more about how to move from talk to action,” said Katy Strzepek, director of CESL. “People often think that it is too difficult to raise their voices and to take a stand on controversial issues such as gun control, but the stories in this film demonstrate that encountering challenges as an activist probably means you are doing something right. Part of civic engagement is learning to rise up even when you are afraid. We hope Redbirds rise, even when the task seems insurmountable.”
Immediately after the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to video chat with Vikiana Petit-Homme, an activist featured in the film. Petit-Homme was only 16 years old when she joined March for Our Lives, a national gun control movement organized by students following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. She’s now a college student and regional organizing director for the March for Our Lives organization.
