Alan Lerner Social Justice Series
In the 10 years during which First Person Arts has offered memoir and documentary programs, we have regularly presented stories about individuals whose lives and experiences speak to important social justice issues. Since many of these issues are both complex and controversial, we have needed expert advice to provide background information about the issues, help us identify spokespeople with a range of perspectives, and, of course, financial support for the programs themselves.
We first reached out to Alan Lerner in 2004 to seek advice about a series we were presenting about the civil rights movement. Not only did Alan suggest a number of local experts to participate as spokespeople and presenters, he was able to offer a full-blown account of Freedom Summer, which he had experienced first-hand.
Year after year, we would call upon Alan for advice related to our programs. He knew something about every topic (or could identify someone who did) ranging from immigration to criminal justice, from the Rosenberg trial to the Valerie Plame affair. He and his wife Adelaide would attend, bring friends, and provide generous financial support.
Although we will always miss Alan’s good counsel, we want to make sure that his legacy is perpetuated through our programming. We have an ongoing commitment to offer documentary programs that address important social justice issues. The programs will occur annually and will be known, henceforth, as the Alan Lerner Social Justice Series. The series launched with a packed screening and discussion of the provocative film Hot Coffee on Monday, September 26, 2011. We wish Alan were here to champion this initiative, but we are grateful to have his inspiration behind it.
To contribute, click here and specify that the gift is for the Alan Lerner Social Justice Series.
