MINNEAPOLIS, April 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KARE 11 today announced the world premiere of its feature length
documentary film LOVE THEM FIRST: Lessons from Lucy Laney Elementary will take place at the Minneapolis St. Paul
International Film Festival (MSPIFF) on Saturday, April 13.
LOVE THEM FIRST follows the determination of a charismatic north Minneapolis school principal, Mauri Melander
Friestleben, as she sets out to undo history.
“People from all walks of the earth have little to no hope for public education. Little to no hope for children
of color, period. But I choose hope. I choose to believe, and even if I’m proven wrong, I will go down believing.” – Lucy
Laney Elementary Principal Mauri Friestleben
Not only does Minnesota have the largest achievement gap between black and white children in the United States, Friestleben
faced another seemingly impossible obstacle, with Lucy Laney at the bottom of the state's list of underperforming schools for two
decades.
Under Friestleben's leadership, standardized test scores from most black students began rising for the first time. And even when
the school encounters an unexpected setback, Friestleben shows her students what is possible with perseverance and the power of
love.
This dynamic production began as a series of shorter KARE 11 News stories entitled Lessons from Lucy Laney Elementary
that aired from 2017-2018. KARE 11 Reporter Lindsey Seavert and KARE 11 Photojournalist Ben Garvin embedded with Lucy Craft
Laney at Cleveland Park Community School in north Minneapolis to tell the challenges and joys of this community.
“We had a window into a world that not many see,” said Lindsey Seavert, co-director. “It was through unprecedented access into a
school, across one school year, that we were able build trust to lift up the stories of children in a truly compelling way.”
“Journalists have real power to shine a light on people who are doing good,” said Ben Garvin, co-director. “And Mauri is an example
of a woman who is just really changing the world.”
“KARE 11 decided to make this project into a full-length feature film because we felt there was a larger story to be told, that
could really make an impact,” said LOVE THEM FIRST Executive Producer and KARE 11 Director of Marketing
Janeen Vogelaar. “We are thrilled to showcase this film at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival and look
forward to sharing this film with the larger community, later in 2019.”
“KARE 11 is dedicated to telling real and honest stories of our community,” said KARE 11 President and General Manager John
Remes. “All of the KARE 11 staff are deeply proud of this work. This film will change your definition of what a true hero is and
remind you of how beautiful our children are.”
LOVE THEM FIRST: Lessons from Lucy Laney Elementary is a co-production of KARE 11 and its parent company TEGNA. For
more information or to request a screening event, go to www.lovethemfirst.com.
CREDITS
Directors: Lindsey Seavert and Ben Garvin
Producers: Melody Gilbert, Lindsey Seavert, Ben Garvin and Janeen Vogelaar
Executive Producer: Janeen Vogelaar
Cinematographer: Ben Garvin
Lead Editor: Ben Garvin
Post Production: Channel Z, Minneapolis
Original Music: Cornbread Harris and Charlie McCarron
About KARE 11
KARE 11 is the Minneapolis/St. Paul, TEGNA-owned, NBC affiliate.
For media inquiries, contact:
Janeen
Vogelaar
KARE 11 Director of Marketing
P: 763-797-7270
For partnership inquiries, contact:
John Remes
KARE 11 President and General Manager
P: 763-797-7254
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/549fa545-0c8e-4907-9eec-a43bbdc3b3da.
![Primary Logo](https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/55eefb23-c5a4-4383-b45e-65384d1c115c/small/kare-neutral-blue-png.png)
Love Them First
Witness the power of love as a failing elementary school struggles to get off the list.