Hickory – The Hickory Community Relations Council (CRC), in partnership with the Hickory Youth Council (YC) and Footcandle Film Society, will host a movie night to screen the documentary, Purple Dreams, on Monday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Drendel Auditorium at the SALT Block. This event is free and open to the public.
Directed by Joanne Hock, Purple Dreams follows the talented and driven students of Charlotte’s Northwest School of the Arts, as black youth stereotypes are turned upside-down. A three-year journey serves as an inspirational window into the lives of inner-city, at-risk students who succeed at their passion, while embracing the transformative power of their arts education as they audition, rehearse, and perform the first ever full-length high school production of The Color Purple.
Following the showing of the film, there will be a question and answer session. The event will conclude with a dessert reception.
“The CRC is excited to partner with the Youth Council and Footcandle Film Society to share this inspirational documentary with the community,” said Mandy Pitts Hildebrand, Vice-Chair of the CRC. Purple Dreams was part of the 2017 Footcandle Film Festival in Hickory, where it won the Audience Favorite Award. After recently watching the documentary, it reminded me of Hickory’s ‘All-America City’ win in 2007 and how this achievement brought the entire community together.”
“This movie night is a great opportunity for the Youth Council to work with the CRC to encourage and inspire youth in our community. We look forward to bringing young people from all different walks of life throughout the Hickory area together,” said Madeline Pitts, Vice-Chair of the Hickory Youth Council.
Attendees to the event are also encouraged to bring canned soup to be donated to a local non-profit, PORCH (People Offering Relief from Community Hunger).
For more information about the Community Relations Council and the Youth Council event, please contact CRC staff liaison Chief Thurman Whisnant at the City of Hickory Police Department, at (828) 261-2605, or YC staff liaison David Leonetti, at (828) 261-2227.
