Free showing of 'Fruitvale Station' on Saturday

Teach For America will have a film screening and discussion of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival-winning movie “Fruitvale Station” Saturday at 5 p.m. There is no admission fee for the movie.

The movie will be shown at the Teach For America office, 131 N. Queen St., and food will be provided. “Fruitvale Station,” which stars Michael B. Jordan, recounts the life of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old African-American who was shot to death on New Years Day 2009 by a police officer in Oakland, Calif.

“I personally feel like this issues are salient now,” Kinston High School English teacher Rashiidah Richardson said. “In past classes, I would talk with students about current events and the issues of police brutality and interactions with police came up. This is a good opportunity to spend time talking about what’s portrayed in both the film and reality.”

Janiel Brown, manager of teacher leadership and development for Teach For America, said the idea came from Richardson, who felt it would help open healthy dialogue.

“It’s an opportunity to open the floor for students and community members,” Brown said. “In the discussion, the community can engage in conversation and their roles on the issues, also finding ways to come together as a collective to do something different.”

For more information, contact Brown at 917-856-7449 or Richardson at 910-391-8562.