Join your neighbors at the Parkway Central Library on Wednesday, November 30 at 6 p.m. for the FREE Philadelphia premiere screening of the new short hybrid documentary film, “The Command Center to Bring Women Home”, with a special Q&A discussion with the filmmaker and co-writers.

The film brings to life a re-imagining of what reentry could look like if it were designed by formerly incarcerated women, rooted in the Black liberation theology concept that joy, unlike happiness, cannot be taken from you.

In 2019, three Philadelphian women: Starr Granger, Paulette Carrington and Tamika Bell collaborated with former Philadelphia poet laureate Yolanda Wisher in a series of writing workshops centered around the women’s experiences having their sentences commuted after having been sentenced to life without parole as young people. Together they imagined a space run by and for formerly incarcerated women.

Director Madeleine Hunt-Elrich and Producer Wren René joined the process to create a hybrid documentary-fiction film, “The Command Center to Bring Women Home”.

This emotionally rich short film challenges the conventional imagery of media about Black women, mental health, drug addiction, systemic poverty, and the carceral system, highlighting instead radical, cinematic and theatrical ways of telling urgent stories. It asks, what happens when mothers and daughters who experience similar trauma struggle to connect across generations, even though their connection is essential to healing, empowerment, and progress?

The screening and talkback will explore ideas that seldom surface in public conversations yet ring loud and clear in private ones. It will spark conversation around the future of reentry, and the possibilities for mothers and daughters to connect across generations.

It is a call to action to come together, stand in our truth, and rebuild our communities. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a moving and energizing conversation with Director Madeleine Hunt-Elrich, Starr Granger, Paulette Carrington and Tamika Bell, moderated by Cherri Gregg, afternoon drive host/news anchor for WHYY radio.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Free Library of Philadelphia Montgomery Auditorium

1901 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

The event is FREE but registration is required