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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2015
Contact: Desiree Evans
Office: 504-301-0428
Email: desiree@wwav-no.org
Women With a Vision Hosts screening of “The House I Live In,” Winner of Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival
Documentary Offers Poignant and Disturbing Look at Devastating Impact of War on Drugs on Families and Communities
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Women With a Vision, Inc., along with the Drug Policy Alliance, Voice of the Ex-Offender, ACLU of Louisiana, and Common Sense NOLA, will host a special screening of the thought-provoking documentary, “The House I Live In” on Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30 p.m. The film will be preceded by a cocktail and networking reception, and immediately followed by a Q&A session with Mike Carpenter, a character featured in the film, Deon Haywood, Executive Director of Women With a Vision, and Gina Womack, Executive Director of Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children.
Since the film’s 2012 release, the producers and directors have been partnering with a vast array of advocacy groups, legislators, and law enforcement to spread the film’s message about the disastrous consequences of the failed war on drugs. Over the past 30 years, the war on drugs has accounted for 45 million arrests and has cost more than $1 trillion. As a result, the United States has become the world’s largest jailer, with Louisiana and New Orleans ranking at the top nationally. The high volume of drug arrests have destroyed low-income communities, creating a vicious cycle that must be stopped. Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Eugene Jarecki, “The House I Live In” offers a poignant look inside U.S. drug policy and its far reaching impact. Executive Producers include Danny Glover, John Legend, Russell Simmons, and Joslyn Barnes.
Following the film, local community advocates will discuss the impact of the war on drugs here in New Orleans and across the South, specifically exploring its impact on women, families, and youth. The screening is a lead-up event to the New Directions New Orleans: Toward a Health-Based Approach to Drug Policy conference happening on Thursday, April 2nd from 9am-5pm at Dillard University.
What: Community screening of “The House I Live In” (Immediately followed by a Q&A with community advocates)
When: Wednesday, April 1, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (6:30 Reception, 7:00 Screening)
Where: Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha C Haley Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70113
The House I Live In Official Trailer
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Founded in 1989, Women With A Vision, Inc. (WWAV) is a community-based non-profit working to improve the lives of marginalized women, their families, and communities by addressing the social conditions and punitive policies that hinder their health and well-being. WWAV accomplishes this through relentless advocacy, health education, supportive services, and community-based participatory research. WWAV has emerged as the premier community-based organization combining service and advocacy to achieve high impact results, offering innovative and community-based services and outreach programs, including: Drug Policy Reform, Harm Reduction, HIV/STD Prevention Education, Reproductive Justice Advocacy, LGBTQ Rights, Community Meetings, and Women’s Health Education and Promotion.