Peter Bouckaert, Emergencies Director for Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) and an expert in humanitarian crises, will speak with HRW Students Task Force (STF) students from New Roads School and from throughout Los Angeles at New Roads School’s Moss Theater on Oct. 2 at 2 pm.
The presentation is part of New Roads’ widely recognized “Workshop and Community Action” program, a contextual curriculum that investigates a range of social, economic and environmental justice issues, and engages students in developing solutions.
“As the centerpiece of New Roads’ social justice curriculum, our combined Workshop/Community Action program exposes our students to a wide range of issues facing the global community and asks them to take action. We can’t imagine a more inspiring model for social justice, tireless advocacy and activism than Peter Bouckaert. This is sure to be an unforgettable experience for all of the students,” said Dan Weslow, Head of New Roads Secondary School.
The presentation by Bouckaert is an outgrowth of public programming that HRW has scheduled in New Roads School’s Ann and Jerry Moss Theater today, — a screening of the documentary “Which Way to the Front Line From Here: The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington,” tracing the life of photographer and filmmaker Tim Hetherington who was killed by mortar fire while covering the civil war in Libya.
Consistent with New Roads’ strategic vision for its new, 342-seat theater, upon learning of the scheduled screening, school administrators approached HRW about scheduling Bouckaert to meet separately with students involved in New Roads School’s active HRW Student Task Force.
“Beyond creating a premier facility to support our excellent performing arts programs, our goal with the Moss Theater is to forge partnerships with organizations whose mission and activities are consistent with our school mission and philosophy, in order to expand and enhance student learning opportunities and enrich the cultural life of the entire community. Our collaboration with HRW is a shining example of how this can be achieved,” said Head of School Walter Landberg.
Once Bouckaert agreed to the Oct. 2 meeting, New Roads STF students under the leadership of teacher Sean Brookes, reached out to extend the opportunity to their peers throughout Los Angeles.
“Peter Bouckaert is the among the world’s most fearless crusaders focused protecting the rights of civilians during armed conflicts. We are thrilled to offer students from across Los Angeles the opportunity to hear him speak about his experiences in places like Syria and Libya,” he said.
With ‘chapters’ at New Roads along with schools in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Carson, Santa Clarita, Newhall and Chatsworth, STF mentors students in leadership skills and activism.
