With today's nation-wide release of Won’t Back Down, Hollywood is shining a spotlight on some of the challenges facing families raising kids in low-income communities. The movie, which includes a character who is a Teach For America alum, also raises complex issues about the relationships among parents, teachers, students and administrators.

Here are some WBD-related links that caught our eye:

The movie is inspired by actual events and stars award-winning actresses Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal as two determined mothers—one a teacher—who join forces to turnaround a failing school, relying on a Parent Trigger law to achieve change for their kids.

Photo by Joella Marano via WikiCommons

Reviews are pouring in from around the country. One accuses the film of being anti-teacher and anti-union; another says it is “likely to add to the ill-informed rancor surrounding school reform.” Others celebrate it for creating awareness about one of the many school reform movements, as well as exposing viewers to “the power of parents in the school choice movement.”

All seem to agree that Won’t Back Down will help education reform become the “national conversation” that it so desperately needs to be.

There’s definitely a lot of room for debate with this film. Make sure to check out Won’t Back Down this weekend and jump on the Twitter conversation using #WBD and #Won’tBackDown.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Pura Vida. 

Want to share your thoughts with me? Email me at carolina.cromeyer@teachforamerica.org.