Screening of documentary to benefit Girl Scouts program
BY KIM BROWN World Scene Writer
Thursday, June 30, 2011
6/30/11 at 6:13 AM
The film featured at "Popcorn and a Movie" should hit home with many Oklahomans.
The Thursday event benefiting the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma's Beyond Bars program will feature a screening of an Oklahoma filmmaker's documentary called "Women Beyond Bars."
Oklahoma leads the nation in the number of incarcerated women per capita.
And Amina Benalioulhaj, a filmmaker and student at the University of Oklahoma, chose to include in her documentary the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program, which local scouts have been involved with for nearly nine years, said Sheila Harbert, director of the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program.
"She's done a lot of research on the effects of incarceration in Oklahoma, so she contacted us because we're one of the programs who help the children (of incarcerated women)," Harbert said. "We're one of those programs that goes in there and connects with the families."
The local program is featured in the film, Harbert said.
"We transport children to see their moms who are incarcerated. It's really good because (Benalioulhaj) interviews the moms before, and she goes through with us from the beginning as we're getting in the van," Harbert said. "You get to see the child's story."
Harbet said the film shows the powerful emotions that some of the children experience.
"We take the opportunity to address the trauma the child goes through," she said. "We deal with anger, bad behavior and even suicide prevention in the worst cases. We know it's a tough topic, but we feel that we can handle it."
Because community service is such a large part of the Girl Scouts' mission, Harbert said this outreach program was a perfect fit.
"Incarceration affects everybody. You see it in different degrees," she said. "These children come from different classes and backgrounds. When we really started getting into this, we found out the need was overwhelming."
Popcorn and a Movie
What: Benefit for Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program
When: 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Tulsa Community College West Campus auditorium, 7505 W. 41st St. South
Cost: Donations start at $20
For more: tulsaworld.com/girlscoutsbeyondbars
Original Print Headline: Screening to benefit program
Kim Brown 918-581-8474
kim.brown@tulsaworld.com
