"Raising of America" film comes to Columbus Tuesday

A film highlighting the challenges that millions of children face in American society will be shown Tuesday at the Columbus Public Library on Macon Road.

The film will be presented by the Muscogee County Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, and will explore the barriers preventing many children from reaching their full potential.

Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the hour-long documentary at 7.

After the film, there will be a community discussion. Among those expected to participate are Muscogee County Superintendent David Lewis, United Way President Scott Ferguson, former Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Bill Murphy, and Betsy Covington, executive director of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley.

Co-moderators will be Warren Steele, founder of the Muscogee Ferst Foundation; Alan Harkness, director of Chattahoochee Valley Libraries and Ann McDuffie, former headmaster of St. Luke School.

Representatives from Headstart, the Literacy Alliance and other social service organizations are also expected to attend.

The film is part of a five-part documentary series "that explores the questions: Why are so many children in America faring so poorly? What are the consequences for the nation’s future? How might we, as a nation, do better?” according to information at http://www.raisingofamerica.org/.

Steele said the documentary was filmed in Massachusetts by a production crew from California. Sponsors of the Columbus event include the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Ledger-Enquirer.

Steele said the event is in response to a conversation started by Lewis when he brought Jamie Vollmer, author of “Schools Cannot Do it Alone,” to Columbus last year.

“We hope to raise awareness about the challenges facing young children in our community,” he said.

This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 2:23 PM with the headline ""Raising of America" film comes to Columbus Tuesday."