Matt Damon Visits Chicago High School, Supports Englewood Speaks Project (VIDEO)
While in town to headline a benefit, Oscar-winning actor and screenwriter Matt Damon stopped by a South Side Chicago high school to help lead a student performance workshop encouraging kids to share their personal histories through storytelling and poetry.
Damon is associated with Voices of a People's History, a Chicago arts and education organization that connects poets, journalists and activists to collaborate on projects in the spirit of Howard Zinn's seminal book, "A People's History of the United Sates." He stopped by TEAM Englewood High School Tuesday to connect with Englewood Speaks, a student-oriented program affiliated with the nonprofit, according to WBEZ.
"Real people who have said real things or people who are doing their own experiences like Englewood Speaks and have a place where teachers can go and get these things," Damon said, according to WBEZ, "[can] use them as teaching tools to help students connect to history."
The students are currently studying Zinn's book, which was the topic of an HBO documentary Damon co-produced in 2010, NBC Chicago reports. Englewood Speaks is planning a performance for the spring.
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First Posted: 02/ 1/2012 4:35 pm Updated: 02/ 1/2012 4:35 pm