The "Coffee and Conversation in the Community" film series continues with a 1 p.m. June 16 screening of "The Quilted Conscience" at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. A discussion in the Van Brunt Visitors Center follows the screening. Both the film and discussion are free and open to the public.
“The Quilted Conscience” tells the story of 16 Sudanese girls who land with their families in Grand Island, far from the trauma of their war-weary homeland. Filmmaker John Sorensen documents the journey as the new Americans participate in an arts project with a local quilters guild.
Guided by Peggy Hartwell, a nationally known African-American quilt-maker, the girls create memory panels that depict their lives in Sudan, and dream panels that show their aspirations and wishes. With the help of the quilt guild, the panels become a work of art, and transform the girls and their mentors.
Sorensen is a Nebraska native now living in New York.
The film was produced in association with NET Television. Christine Lesiak is the executive producer for NET.
The panel discussion after the screening will include Sorensen, Hartwell, Lesiak, several of the young women and one of the adult quilters featured in the film.
“Coffee and Conversation” is free and open to the public and is presented by NET Learning Services/NET Community Engagement and Educational Outreach.
For more information on the series go to http://netNebraska.org/engage.