A Showing and Discussion of the Documentary Film, "ON THESE GROUNDS"

4227 Fifth Avenue,Pittsburgh PA 15260

19 January, 2023

Description

As part of the MLK Social Justice Week at the University of Pittsburgh, please join The Black Girls Equity Alliance and The School of Social Work for a showing and discussion of the documentary film, "ON THESE GROUNDS." A video goes viral, showing a white police officer in South Carolina pull a Black teenager from her school desk and throw her across the floor. Healer-Activist Vivian Anderson uproots her life in New York City to move to South Carolina to support the girl and dismantle the system behind the assault at Spring Valley, including facing the police officer. Adding context, geographer Janae Davis treks the surrounding swamps and encounters the homes of formerly enslaved people of African descent, connecting the past to the present. Against the backdrop of a racial reckoning and its deep historical roots, one incident illuminates how Black girls, with the support of organizers, are creating a more just and equitable future for themselves and our entire education system. The film will be followed by a panel discussion of the issues raised and how to get involved locally. Panelists include: • Vivian Anderson, Healer-Activist featured in the film • Ghadah Makoshi, Community Advocate with the ACLU of Pennsylvania • Dr. Nancy Hines, Penn Hills School District Superintendent • Ronald Como, Penn Hills Chief of Police • Madina, Black Girls Advocacy and Leadership Alliance (BGALA) participant • Tashira Halyard, Esq., Research Coordinator for Gwen's Girls Co-Sponsored by The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Center on Race and Social Problems, PITT Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and The Black Girls Equity Alliance