I AM A PROMISE I AM A PROMISE is a documentary portrait of children growing up outside the American dream where hope for their future survives in their education. At Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia, a troubled inner-city neighborhood, 90% of the students live below the poverty line and come from single-parent homes. The school has 725 African-American pupils, from Head Start through the fifth grade, who attempt with varying degrees of success to defy poverty in a neighborhood blighted with crack houses and violence in order to receive the most basic education. Their fears, anger and isolation as well as dreams and joys come through poignantly as this cinema verite film allows the children to speak for themselves. Filmed over the course of one year, the program includes dramatic profiles of young children struggling to succeed despite their many family difficulties including crack addiction, foster care, and homelessness.  I AM A PROMISE also tells the powerful story of a devoted principal, Deanna Burney, who is determined to bring equality in education to a school under funded and understaffed. She works tirelessly to create a cheerful climate for learning for both students and teachers; introduces innovative programs with computer technology and an experimental all-male first grade class; and receives the caring support of families. I AM A PROMISE is astoundingly relevant today and imparts a poignantly captivating series of vignettes concerning children growing up outside the American dream, echoing current urban-education issues in our country’s ongoing political discussions on public education. > Read the speech given by Alan Raymond at the Academy of Arts and Sciences Produced by Alan Raymond and Susan Raymond Press:
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