MCHS students experience “Harriet”

MCHS students experience “Harriet”

Michigan City, IN, December 13, 2019 -- More than 70 Michigan City High School freshmen attended the movie, “Harriet” on Tuesday, December 10 at AMC Theatres in Michigan City. Harriet depicts the heroic story of Harriet Tubman, from her escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad.

The field trip was sponsored by the NAACP LaPorte County Branch 3061 and the Michigan City Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males. Following the movie, the NAACP representatives LaTonya Troutman and Reamon Webster led the students in a discussion. 

“The movie was very impactful,” said Troutman. “Students applauded several times and were moved emotionally by what they saw.” 

Webster, who chairs a new NAACP initiative called ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, and Scientific Olympics) noted that the NAACP plans to mentor and engage more MCHS students this school year through ACT-SO, which offers 32 competitions in STEM, the humanities, business, and performing, visual, and culinary arts. “We’ll be pairing interested students with mentors in these fields to help them create a project,” he said. “We hope it will provide an opportunity for students to visualize success and then work to achieve it.”

Freshmen who attended the movie are involved in the MCHS P.A.C.K. (Prepare- Achieve-College/Career- Knowledge) Academy, a small learning community at MCHS that emphasizes academic growth with a focus on reading, math, study, and organizational skills. P.A.C.K. Academy teachers include Julie Geyer, Lynne Clinkert, Heather Drake, Sam Puchalski, and Tammy Rinker.

“The field trip to see Harriet was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn about past brave leaders,” said Geyer, who was instrumental in organizing the experience. “Now, thanks to the NAACP, our students can be matched with mentors to help them grow into brave heroes for the future.”

Visit naacplaportecounty3061.com for more information.