Film spreads students’ message of peace

"I Am for Peace"

"I Am for Peace"

Cameras were rolling last June when three Chicago public high school students led a massive peace march to protest gun violence in the city. More than 2,000 of their peers from five middle schools and high schools took part.

The result is “I Am for Peace,” an inspiring and empowering documentary that will premiere at 8 p.m. Thursday on public television WTTW-Channel 11.

Perspectives Charter Schools raised more than $35,000 on Kickstarter to finance the 30-minute film, which features appearances by actress/singer Jennifer Hudson and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. It’s produced by New Chapter Entertainment, a production company started by former producers of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

But the real focus is on an extraordinary group of students who take what they learn in a curriculum called A Disciplined Life and apply it to the problems of their communities.

"WTTW is proud to broadcast this impactful film," Dan Soles, senior vice president and chief television content officer of the Window to the World station, said in a statement. "The efforts of the Perspectives students are inspiring and empowering. It's our hope that showing this documentary will help raise awareness about their good work.”

The broadcast television debut comes one week before Perspectives Charter Schools students stage another peace march June 5.

"I Am for Peace"

"I Am for Peace"