‘Paper Tigers’ documentary to be shown in Anamosa

     A free showing of the documentary film “Paper Tigers” will be held at the Anamosa Library and Learning Center, 600 E. First St., on Tuesday, March 28, from 3:30-5:45 p.m. The movie is one hour and 45 minutes, and a brief discussion will follow.

     HACAP’s First Five Initiative is hosting this partnership with the Community Partnership for Protecting Children and the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition.

     “Paper Tigers” is an intimate look into the lives of selected students at Lincoln High School, an alternative school that specializes in educating traumatized youth. Set amidst the struggling rural community of Walla Walla, Wash., the film intimately examines the inspiring promise of Trauma-Informed Communities – a movement that is showing great promise in healing youth struggling with the dark legacy of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Following six students over the course of a school year, we see Lincoln’s staff try a new approach to discipline: one based on understanding and treatment rather than judgment and suspension.

     “Paper Tigers” is a testament to what the latest developmental science is proving; that one caring adult can help break the cycle of adversity in a young person’s life. You follow students like Aron, a senior who avoids eye contact and barely speaks in class; freshman Kelsey, who struggles with meth addiction and abusive relationships; and Steven, a senior who has been in and out of juvenile hall since junior high for fights and threatening teachers. As the teachers slowly gain their students’ trust, they hear harrowing tales of physically abusive and negligent parents, homelessness, sexual abuse… The list goes on. Despite the upheaval in their home lives, the students find the support they need at Lincoln to make academic progress, and find less destructive ways of coping. They also find hope for becoming healthy and productive adults as they go out into the world.

     “Paper Tigers” is an unrated documentary. There is the use of profanity during some of the scenes, and the overall content can be difficult to watch for some individuals.

     For other information, call 462-4327 ex. 202.