Update: There was a tremendous response for tickets, which were all claimed within 48 hours of the University’s announcement. No more tickets are available.
The University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement is partnering with the nonprofit After School Matters to offer local teens free tickets to see the award-winning film Selma at three South Side theaters: ShowPlace ICON at Roosevelt Collection, Chatham 14 Theaters, and the Harper Theater in Hyde Park. The Harper Theater is extending the film’s run an extra week because of this opportunity.
“This film documents a critical juncture in the civil rights movement and therefore this nation’s history,” said Derek Douglas, the University’s Vice President for Civic Engagement. “We believe deeply that cost should not be a barrier for young people who want to see the film, so we are delighted to work with After School Matters to provide free access for local youth.”
The University is sponsoring 1,000 tickets through this partnership. In addition, as a complement to its Neighborhood Schools Program work with local schools and Chicago Public Schools students on the mid-South Side, the University will host discussions for local students in conjunction with the showings at the Harper Theater. After School Matters has developed a companion resource guide to encourage dialogue and projects around the movie.
Ticket vouchers can be downloaded and printed from a special event registration webpage (http://bit.ly/OCE-SELMA). They are valid on a first-come first-served basis at any showing of the film at the three theaters, but need to be used by March 1 at ICON and Chatham. Selma is currently showing at the Harper Theater until Feb. 13.
The free tickets were made possible through a special fundraising effort by the After School Matters board of directors, chaired by Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson. It was modeled on a similar initiative in New York and other cities to give underprivileged teens the opportunity to see the film.
“What took place 50 years ago in Selma is key to understanding much about the civil rights movement, race, equality and democracy,” said Hobson, After School Matters board chair. “I want our teens to experience that moment in history and see how it directly connects to the challenges they face today. By encouraging this kind of civic engagement—whether that means talking about civil rights generally or about the right to vote as depicted in the film—we can empower our teens to take hold of their futures.”
The ShowPlace ICON at Roosevelt Collection is at 150 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chatham 14 Theaters are at 210 W. 87th St. The Harper Theater is located at 5238 S. Harper Ave. Teens or parents who have questions about the ticketing process should contact After School Matters, at reception@afterschoolmatters.org or 312.742.4182.
For general information about the University’s sponsorship, contact Kim Grimshaw Bolton, in UChicago’s Office of Civic Engagement, at kbolton@uchicago.edu or 773-702-6476.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
