Sponsored Ad
Erin Gruwell
Sponsored Ad
Keynote Speaker
A Teacher of Hope
Erin Gruwell has earned an award-winning reputation for her steadfast commitment to the future of education. Her impact as a teacher attracted Hollywood’s attention, and in 2007, Paramount Pictures released Freedom Writers, starring two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank as Erin. The film is based on The Freedom Writers Diary, the New York Times Bestseller that chronicles Erin’s extraordinary journey with her 150 high school students who dubbed themselves the Freedom Writers in homage to the Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights Movement.
By fostering an educational philosophy that values and promotes diversity, Erin transformed her students’ lives. She encouraged them to re-think rigid beliefs about themselves and others, reconsider their own daily decisions, and ultimately, re-chart their future. With Erin’s support, they chose to forego teenage pregnancy, drugs, and violence in order to become aspiring college students, published authors, and catalysts for change.
Erin founded the Freedom Writers Foundation, where she currently teaches educators around the world how to implement her innovative lesson plans into their own classrooms. Erin’s teaching methods from her time in Room 203 have been published in her powerful call to arms, Teach With Your Heart, as well as The Freedom Writers Diary Teacher’s Guide. Erin and the teachers she has trained, known as Freedom Writer Teachers collaborated to write Teaching Hope, a book in which stories from the front lines of education take [the reader] from the anticipation of the first day to the disillusionment, challenges, and triumphs of the school year.
Erin and her students have appeared on numerous television shows, including Oprah, Prime Time Live with Connie Chung, Barbara Walters, The View, and Good Morning America. Their story has earned them dozens of awards, most notably the Spirit of Anne Frank Award. Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writer Teachers also collaborated with Scholastic to create On the Record, an innovative reading and writing program. On the Record uses the Freedom Writers Methodology to improve students’ reading and writing skills, as well as the quality of their lives.
All 150 of the Freedom Writers went on to graduate in 1998, and their stories were published in a book called The Freedom Writers Diary, which became a New York Times Bestseller and was adapted into the feature film Freedom Writers starring Hilary Swank. Many of Gruwell’s students pursued higher education and now have successful careers. They created the Freedom Writers Foundation to help educators reproduce the success of Room 203 in classrooms around the world.
GENERAL SESSION KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Erin Gruwell will present their Keynote Address at the General Session on Wednesday, April 28, 2027, at 8:45am in the Palm Springs Convention Center.
Freedom Writers: Engage, Enlighten, and Empower Your Students
What happens when a teacher refuses to give up on her students and challenges them to refuse to give up on themselves?
In "Freedom Writers: Engage, Enlighten, and Empower Your Students," Gruwell brings her transformative classroom experience to life, sharing powerful lessons about building meaningful relationships, creating an inclusive learning environment, and inspiring students to discover their own voices and potential. Her story demonstrates that when educators see beyond circumstances, challenge assumptions, and truly believe in their students, they can ignite change that reaches far beyond the classroom.
Through compelling stories, practical insights, and an unwavering belief in the power of education, Erin Gruwell challenges educators to engage their students, enlighten their thinking, and empower them to become the authors of their own futures.
|
|
Keynote Meet & Greet and Book Signing
Erin Gruwell will also be participating in our Keynote Meet & Greet and Book Signing event on Wednesday, April 28, 2027 at 9:45am at the BOOST Collaborative Booth in the Exhibit Hall. You can pre-purchase their books in your online account. If you have pre-purchased a book, you can pick it up at the BOOST Booth. There will also be a limited supply of books to purchase. We cannot guarantee the availability of books on-site, and we recommend that you pre-order these books in your registration account.
The Freedom Writers Diary (20th Anniversary Edition) (How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them)
The Freedom Writers Diary is a powerful collection of true stories from 150 high school students who discovered the transformative power of writing, education, and believing in themselves.
Guided by teacher Erin Gruwell, students who faced racism, poverty, violence, and challenging circumstances found their voices through writing. As they shared their stories, they began to understand one another, break down barriers, build community, and imagine new possibilities for their futures.
The 20th Anniversary Edition brings their inspiring journey to a new generation, reminding us that every young person has a story worth hearing—and that when young people are given a voice, a safe space, and someone who believes in them, they can change themselves and the world around them.
The Freedom Writers Diary Teacher's Guide
The Freedom Writers Diary Teacher’s Guide is a practical resource designed to help educators bring the powerful lessons of the Freedom Writers into their own classrooms and learning spaces.
Inspired by the real-life experiences of 150 students and their teacher, Erin Gruwell, the guide provides engaging activities, discussion questions, writing prompts, and strategies that encourage young people to find their voices, explore their experiences, build empathy, and connect with others.
More than a teaching resource, the guide encourages educators to create spaces where young people feel seen, heard, valued, and empowered. It offers practical ways to use writing, storytelling, and dialogue to inspire reflection, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful learning experiences.
Click here to add these books to your registration.
EDUCATE YOUR TEAM ON Erin Gruwell
BOOST is proud to bring prominent experts, researchers, and leaders to our General Sessions. We have created a useful guide to support your learning prior to attending the BOOST Conference. Download our guide on How to Educate Your Team About Erin Gruwell and share it with your team so you know what to expect from our 2027 BOOST Conference Keynote Speaker.
Click the image to download.
COMING SOON
Poolside Dive-In Movie
Thursday, April 29
8:00PM - 10:00PM
Renaissance Hotel Pool
Gather poolside in a chaise lounge or on a raft in the pool and watch the film on the big screen! Drink and appetizer specials will be available. BOOST beach towels will be available for purchase at the BOOST Booth in the Exhibit Hall on Wednesday & Thursday only.
Freedom Writers
Hilary Swank stars in this story about a teacher in a racially divided school who gives her students what they’ve always needed - a voice. Swank plays Erin Gruwell, the real-life teacher at Long Beach’s Wilson High who inspired her students to overcome the gangs that divided them and the education system that forgot them. Based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary and supported by a cast of first-time actors who drew from their actual experiences on the street, Gruwell teaches us all an important lesson about tolerance and trust.
Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events, including all meals and all workshops.
Donate to BOOST to help create change
By donating to BOOST Collaborative, you are supporting our mission to provide quality professional development to global educators, building community, and cultivating experiences for change. You are supporting our purpose - thank you for your support.
Click here to learn how you can donate to support BOOST events.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |