Iron Ladies of Liberia

Iron Ladies of Liberia was featured in ITVS’s landmark Community Cinema program, which produced community outreach screenings in 50 cities during February 2008. All screenings were conducted between 10 and 60 days prior to the film’s scheduled national broadcast on Independent Lens. Post-screening discussions focused on U.S. and international support of efforts to rebuild of Liberia (and what Liberian Americans are doing), the role of women in political leadership, and the myriad challenges that emerging democracies face. Iron Ladies of Liberia screenings welcomed more than 4,200 community members to events across the nation, which included panel discussions with local Liberian American community leaders, human-rights workers, local elected officials and foreign policy experts.

The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, presented a screening for 200 community members. Augustine Konneh, former history chair at Morehouse, provided insight into the history of Liberia and its inextricable ties to the U.S. Reverend William Harris discussed the many aid organizations in Atlanta, and around the country that are poised to assist in the rebuilding of Liberia. Special guests included producer Jonathan Stack and Liberian co-director Siatta Scott Johnson, who talked about the significance of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's election and the hope and transformation that she and the other "Iron Ladies" are bringing to the country.

More than 80 community-based and national organizations partnered with ITVS to engage audiences around this film; many events were co-sponsored by Liberian community organizations and refugee service organizations, providing a platform for voices rarely heard in community forums.

Iron Ladies of Liberia is featured in the Vote Democracy! Community Classroom collection, offering short film modules and curricular materials that have been distributed to more than 2,000 educators to date, reaching more than 10,000 students and youth.