We made the film “WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” to be an educational tool but it has become so much more. It has become a wellspring of common ground for healing to take place. We are encouraging people to put the reconciliation power of this film to work by hosting or sponsoring private home screening events — “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner & A Movie?” events for friends and neighbors, with the “guess who” being one or two peace officers who are not in uniform and their profession unrevealed until sometime during the conversation after the film. The “guess who” part of the event adds some “what’s my line game show” type levity to a sometimes difficult-to-have conversation and helps people to connect on a more personal level before the reveal of the peace officer’s profession
Each event consists of dinner, movie and then conversation over desserts and coffee. It’s a unique way for a family to have “the talk” about police in a way that is very educational and empowering, while getting to know neighbors and getting to know one or two peace officers from their area. Getting everyone together in the same room and finding common ground through a meal, a movie and a discussion — that’s the key to improving communications and forming potentially life-saving relationships. It’s also the perfect setting for companies that thrive on relationships to be presenting sponsors and be viewed as part of the solution our communities need to be healthy and whole.
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner & A Movie?” events are a fun, easy way for people to participate in improving police-community relations and fostering unity in their community. The host family simply rents the film “WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” for $9.99 online (less than the cost of one movie ticket at the theater!) at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/wwb3dayrental <https://vimeo.com/ondemand/wwb3dayrental> and shows it on their smart TV or projector connected to a computer and the internet.
HOW TO HOST A “GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER & A MOVIE?” EVENT IN 3 EASY STEPS:
STEP 1: Gather family, neighbors and local peace officers to have dinner together.
STEP 2: Watch the film “WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer” together.
STEP 3: Have a discussion over coffee and dessert, including followup activities you can all take together to be part of the solution in your community (like creating a community garden or public art project together).
STEP 4: Post your photos and comments online using #TRYLOVENOW
Simple. Fun. Powerful. Effective.
Household by household, heart by heart, the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement will transform policing in America and promote reconciliation overall simply by teaching peace officers and other members of the community how to love and respect each other? You are invited to begin the revolution of L.O.V.E. in your community by hosting or sponsoring a dinner party!
Love is the most powerful force in the universe. L.O.V.E. = (LEARNING about each other, OPENING our hearts to each other’s needs, VOLUNTEERING to be part of the solution in each other’s life, and EMPOWERING others to do the same).
Join us as an event host or as a sponsor. Let’s break bread together to heal our communities one household, one neighborhood at a time.