Anjuli Turner and members of the Black Student Union collaborated and produced a short documentary on the black student experience at Piedmont High School. The goal was to provide insights to guide policy makers on the adoption of Equity and Racial Justice.
Piedmont High School’s Advanced Acting program produced Lisa Loomer’s comedic drama Roe from March 5th-8th at the Piedmont Center for the Arts.
The lawyer: a young, driven woman who argued Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court. The plaintiff: a wild, hippie bartender seeking to end an unwanted pregnancy. As we know, they won the landmark 1973 case that legalized abortion. But what most people don’t know is how their divergent journeys after the case reflect the current divide in American culture. With shocking turns and surprising humor, Roe illuminates the difficult choices people make, and the passion each side has for its cause.
Author Lisa Loomer wrote Roe to understand the divide that exists in this country today. “I wanted to understand: Why can’t we talk to each other, as Americans, about this issue? I don’t kid myself that a play will change minds. It happens, but very rarely. But if we open our minds enough to even consider a position that is different from the one we brought into the theater – that is the beginning of compassion.”
PHS acting teacher Kimberly Taylor invited Anjuli Turner to play the role of Roxanne and said, “Anjuli went above and beyond and blew our socks off in her secret work as Roxanne.” Anjuli was thrilled to dabble in acting and honored to be part of such a talented crew who helped her understand all sides of the Roe v Wade debate.
As the PHS liaison to the Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee (PADC), Anjuli Turner rallied Students for Diversity to perform the “Let Us Be Dissatisfied” portion of Martin Luther King’s speech, Where Do We Go From Here?
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, 13th District and David Lai, The King Institute at Stanford University also spoke.
Thank you, Ms. Debbie Gonzales for writing your awesome picture book, Girls with Guts: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records (Charlesbridge, 2019) and for inviting me on your debcast that features female athletes.
I also appreciate your interest in iEmpowerKids and our work to raise awareness of child trafficking, as well as your pitch about our star and heart ornaments. We have already gotten orders!!!!!!!! So a super huge thank you from me, my sister, Aubrey, and the girls in Thailand who handcraft the holiday ornaments to help transition out of their old life! Your sharing what we do helps raise awareness of the problem.
I had so much fun doing this podcast interview with Ms. Gonzales. She deserves a big shout out for her book and all of the work she’s doing to highlight female athletes. I only wish her book had been published sooner. So, if you know a little girl or are interested in books about girls who aren’t afraid of pushing boundaries, Girls with Guts is the book you need to read and gift. It’s a great girl empowerment story.
And thank you to all of the female soccer players–Julie Foudy, Megan Rapinoe, Michelle French, Marta Vieira da Silva, Christine Sinclair, Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, Brandi Chastain, and so many others–before me who paved the way for my generation and generations to come. These are only a handful of amazing female soccer athletes you should invite onto your debcast, Ms. Gonzales. They have done so much for women’s soccer and the path soccer is on today.
Whenever I have a big game and need inspiration, my sister and I like to watch the movie, Dare to Dream, about the first women’s national soccer team and their struggle to raise funding to compete at a high level. Watching their rise to stardom, despite the obstacles, always pushes me to do my best on the field. Every little girl (and big ones too!) who love the game of soccer should own a copy of Dare to Dream and watch it frequently. We should never forget what these players had to do–and continue to do–to earn recognition and equality on and off the field.
Anjuli Turner rocks the catwalk!
Rising Figures, created by Kami Zimmer and Lucy Barrett, recognized Anjuli Turner’s efforts in supporting survivors of child trafficking and raising awareness of the problem. Anjuli, along with some of her peers, at Piedmont High School, participated in a fashion show fundraiser to support Bay Area Women Against Rape.
The finale catwalk featuring all of the Rising Figures and the organizers.
