Maestra April 7, 2011

The 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign dramatically improved Cuban literacy by organizing over 140,000 volunteers - over half of who were women - to teach classes in the country's rural areas. In less than a year, more than 700,000 Cubans learned to read and write. The national literacy rate increased from 65% to 96%, making the campaign one of the most successful in the history of Latin America.

"Maestra" is a 30-minute video documentary that shares the stories of Cuban women literacy workers who traveled to the mountains and valleys across the island to teach-and who found themselves deeply transformed in the process.

"Maestra" Director Catherine Murphy and former literacy campaign teacher Norma Guillard will participate in a post-film talkback facilitated by renowned film critic, B. Ruby Rich. The discussion and Q & A will be translated and bi-lingual.

Official Website: http://www.missionculturalcenter.org/MCCLA_New/events.html#songs_begining