"Through the creative process, Platte Forum gives hope and direction to youth who collaborate with artists from around the world. This experience transforms the lives of the youth, the artists and the community."
     Dawn Williams Boyd Platte Forum Residency will be held from April 14 -May 22,2008 with the Exhibition from May 22-June 13, 2008.
     Artist Dawn Williams Boyd will work intensively with twelve youth from Colfax Community Network. (CCN works with Homeless families living in the east Colfax corridor). During her residency Dawn Williams Boyd will create a large new quilt titled "Quilting with Ms Dawn" that depicts her at a quilting bee surrounded by the students working with her in the Learning Labs.
     Each student will create his/her own quilt as a self-portrait. The quilts will employ traditional hand piecing/quilting (no sewing machines) and doll making methods using a wide variety of fabrics, and notions.
     The youth will visit the Denver Art Museum to visit the Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilts exhibit. The residency will culminate in a colorful and exuberant exhibition of handmade quilts.
     "Art is essential to the well being of the human animal. Without it we are in

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     Freedom Writer Maria Reyes will share the significant impact Holocaust education had on her life at the Anti-Defamation League’s 27th Annual Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program on Wednesday, April 30.
     In high school, third-generation gang member Reyes, who had not yet read a book cover-to-cover, was required to read The Diary of Anne Frank after her teacher discovered that most of the students had never heard of the Holocaust. Inspired by Anne Frank’s story, Reyes and her peers began to share their own stories through anonymous journals. Through their writing, they confronted their own biases and prejudices and began to question their own hateful stereotypes. Dubbed “Freedom Writers” in homage to the Civil Rights activists the “Freedom Riders,” this class, labeled “unteachable, below average, and delinquent,” became a closely-knit, motivated and successful family. Their journal entries were later published as The Freedom Writers Diary and highlighted in Paramount Studio’s powerful movie, Freedom Writers.
     The April 30th event begins at 6:00 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The event is free, but tickets are required. To RSVP and for more information, please call 303-830-7177 ext. 214 or email Denver@ADL. org by April 18th.
     This year’s program is made possible by the generous support of the Coors Brewing Company, HealthOne Rose Medical Center, MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation, WELLS FARGO, and the Sturm Family Foundation.
     The Anti-Defamation League is the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations agency fighting antiSemitism and all forms of bigotry and hatred, defending democratic ideals and protecting civil rights for all. Through its A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE ® Institute, ADL provides diversity and anti-bias training and resources for the community, schools and law enforcement officials. For more information about ADL and its services, visit regions.ADL.org/mountain-states.