Thursday April 18 | 7pm
Screening followed by Q&A
The Paramount Theater
Presented with UVA Law Decarceration and Community Reentry Clinic, Chris Little & Tori Goodloe, The Paramount Theater, and Vault Virginia
A Fundraiser for the Bridge Ministry and the Bridge to Life Film
From celebrated director Chris Farina comes a documentary about the power of overcoming hardship, building community, and remaining resilient. A Bridge to Life is a portrait of an organization that for years has been working to change and save the lives of men dealing with life-threatening addiction issues. The men receive intensive job-training skills along with psychological and spiritual mentoring to give them a chance to return to society as successful community and family members.
Interwoven throughout this film is the inspiring story of William Washington, the founder and Executive Director of the Bridge Ministry. Having suffered serious trauma as a child, this led to him becoming a homeless teenager on the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, as both a user and seller of deadly drugs. He was incarcerated more than once, and while eventually facing a long-term prison sentence, he was given a chance by a compassionate judge to enter a program that positively altered his life. Uplifted by this experience, he dedicated his own life to helping others who faced the same troubled path that he had been on. This led to his creation of the Bridge Ministry, in 1996, which is a much better alternative than incarceration to deal with our country’s serious crisis of drug addiction.
Founded in 1996 by William Washington, The Bridge Ministry emerged from his transformative journey during a long-term jail sentence. Overcoming addiction, he initiated community meetings within the jail and extended his home and support to troubled men and families in need. The organization has since provided a second chance for men committed to breaking free from life controlling issues, by providing mentoring, vocational skills, education, counseling, and the relationships they need to bridge the gap from addiction to productive community and family life.
Following the film, a discussion and Q&A will occur with William Washington and individuals who have been impacted by the ministry.
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
This film screening is a fundraiser for the Bridge Ministry, as well as the distribution of the film to a larger audience.
Tickets are offered on a sliding-scale basis (Suggested $15 - $35).
THIS FILM CAPS A DAY-LONG EXPLORATION OF RE-ENTRY AND REPAIR
On Thursday April 18, the 12th Annual Tom Tom Festival will present a day of ReEntry-themed programs that help assemble the regional stakeholders who are helping individuals re-enter society from the carceral system, as well as raise empathy and awareness for the barriers encountered when re-entering society.
In the morning a ReEntry Summit at Vault Virginia will provide a multi-hour connection for those working in the space to better create a dignified, supportive, welcome to those coming home. That afternoon, a ReEntry Simulation will be offered to the public that showcases the difficulties one encounters when exiting prison, often when barred from housing and banking.