World Trust & Boston Public Health Commission Announce Boston Premiere of Cracking the Codes

Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity is in Boston for a community film/dialogue event on Tuesday, October 23rd at The Strand Theater. The film includes personal accounts from 23 leaders in the racial equity movement and original music.
 
Oct. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- World Trust Announces
Boston Premiere of Cracking the Codes on Tuesday, October 23rd
New Racial Equity Film Designed for Dialogue

Contact: Lisa Abbott,
     Executive Director, World Trust
 510-333-9325, lisa@world-trust.org

Nick Martin
Director of Communications, Boston Public Health Commission
617-534-2821, NMartin@bphc.org


October 11, 2012

Boston, MA -- A multi-city tour of the new documentary film Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity makes its way to Boston for a community film/dialogue event on Tuesday, October 23rd at The Strand Theater.  Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity asks America to talk about the causes and consequences of systemic inequity. The film includes moving personal accounts that illuminate the system that perpetuates structural inequity. The film features 23 leaders in the equity movement including: Amer Ahmed, Joy DeGruy, Ise Lyfe, Peggy McIntosh, Hugh Vasquez and Tim Wise.  The critical mass of stories are supported by original music by recording artist Amikeayla Gaston and spoken word by Oakland Poetry Slam finalist Y. Jelal Huyler.

“Cracking the Codes is designed to deepen and shift the framing of racial disparities in this country,” said Shakti Butler, PhD, director of the film and founder of World Trust Educational Services. “The current conversation is not only shallow, but actually harmful.  When we talk about solving the issues of violence and poverty in Boston, we continue to primarily focus on individuals, when institutional and structural inequities are the bigger problem.”  Cracking the Codes is Shakti Butler’s fourth documentary film with cinematography by her husband, EMMY award-winner Rick Butler.  Her films reach both head and heart with a critical mass of stories intertwined with music, art and poetry.

At the event, film clips will be braided with dialogue facilitated by Shakti Butler. The event is ideal for anyone yearning for change yet wary of conversation about race. “In these divisive times, one of our goals is to deepen the conversation,” says Dr. Butler, “Film lends support by allowing folks to see the multiple ways we walk through the world. Dialogue rekindles our connection to one another and enables us to hold paradox: Your experience is different than mine. The world is not only the way I see it.  To heal the wounds of racism and dismantle systemic inequity, we must be able to hold that paradox. And we can, for in our heart of hearts we all want to create a world that works for everyone.”

The film/dialogue event is open to the public and promises to be an event that will engage the community at large. The collaboration between Boston Public Health Commission and World Trust was natural given the BPHC’s commitment to equity and movement building. BPHC’s mission is “to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable.”  Using Cracking the Codes as a tool to enrich the greater Boston community, BPHC will more effectively engage and promote well-being. Hosted by Jose´ Masso´, Host of “¡Con Salsa!” on WBUR 90.9FM and facilitated the Oakland-based filmmaker herself, Dr. Shakti Butler.  Jose explains his interest in the Cracking the Codes project saying, “I believe that our future depends on all of us in the 21st century being healthy: physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, socially and spiritually.  Cracking the Codes provides insight, guidance, and the necessary tools for us to accomplish this. “

Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity Film and Community Dialogue Event
TUESDAY October 23rd 5:30pm reception, 6:30pm program
The Strand, 543 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA
Advance tickets are $20, includes a reception with the filmmaker at 5:30pm.  “Pay-what-you-can” tickets are available at the Strand Box Office beginning at 5:30pm the night of the event.  Advance Purchase Recommended http://strandboston.com/calendar/event/72-cracking-the-co...

While in Boston, filmmaker and racial justice educator Dr. Shakti Butler will be facilitating a follow-up to the Cracking the Codes film and dialogue event on October 24th.  This forum will focus on building skills in advancing racial justice and strengthening the network of people and organizations committed to racial equity in Boston.  Using her new film, Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity, as a catalyst for dialogue, Dr. Butler will lead participants to develop a deeper understanding of the system of inequity and explore strategies to achieve personal, organizational, and structural transformation. The forum will foster community connection and is designed to enable new questions and new approaches to emerge that will facilitate racial justice work in the Greater Boston community.  According to Nashira Baril, Co-Director, Center for Health Equity and Social Justice at the Boston Public Health Commission, “The Boston Public Health Commission is thrilled to co-sponsor the Cracking the Codes events in Boston to engage people from all over the city in a rich conversation about identity, healing, and movement building. Having worked with Shakti in the past, I know that the participants are in for a moving experience!”

Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity premiered to a standing room only crowd in Chicago on September 27th. The film/dialogue tour continues on to Oakland November 8th, Seattle in the spring of 2013 with more sites on the horizon. For film clips and more information visit http://www.crackingthecodes.org

About Shakti Butler and World Trust
Shakti Butler, PhD is Founder and Creative Director of World Trust Educational Services, a nonprofit based in Oakland, CA. Through education rooted in love and justice, World Trust is a catalyst for racial equity. Using the powerful combination of film, dialogue, and transformative learning World Trust strives to create new understanding and build community.  World Trust produces programs and seminars based on Dr. Butler’s acclaimed documentary films such as “The Way Home: Women Talk About Race in America” and “Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible.” World Trust’s film-based conversation/study programs are in continual use at hundreds of schools, universities, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and government institutions nationwide.  World Trust’s films, learning events and programs engage thousands of new people in racial equity each year. More information at http://www.world-trust.org.

About the Film: Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity

The film contains three sections that correspond with World Trust’s framing of the system of racial inequity.  

Section 1: Social Determinants: History, Identity & Culture
Section 2: Internal Components: Bias, Privilege, Internalized Racism
Section 3: External Relationships: Interpersonal, Institutional, Structural

Designed for dialogue, the film works to disentangle internal beliefs, attitudes and pre-judgements within, and it builds skills to address the structural drivers of social and economic inequities.  “Like our previous projects, The Way Home: Women Talk about Race in America and Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible, this new project fills a gap in racial equity training and education.  Organizations are seeking tools that will provide their students, staff and communities with a deeper understanding of systemic inequity that will drive cultural change and be expressed in policies, services and other forms of democratic action,” says Shakti Butler, “Cracking the Codes will inspire accountability and a passion for racial justice in many thousands of students, teachers, faith-based organizations and leaders in our country.”  The film is 75 minutes long and includes Spanish and English subtitles.  A downloadable conversation guide is available online. To learn more about the Cracking the Codes project or purchase the film visit http://www.crackingthecodes.org .
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