WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E Is The Answer Film at MICA
Event Information
Description
More than 4 1/2 years in the making, award-winning filmmakers A.J. Ali and Errol Webber present the OFFICIAL BALTIMORE PREMIERE of the film WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer. This powerful film about reconciliation and putting love into action is the launch of a movement to improve relations between peace officers and the communities they serve.
Following the film premiere, there will be a Q&A with the filmmakers and featured experts. Two key members of the WWB team are MICA grads living in Los Angeles. Both of them will be participating in a Q&A following the screening of the film.
- Errol Webber, Producer and Director of Photography
- Lydia Hall, Editor
- A.J. Ali, Producer & Director, will also participate in the Q&A
*** ATTENTION MICA STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF:
Members of the MICA community will receive free admission to this event. Please use the promo code you received in your e-mail when registering. Anyone securing your ticket, please present your student I.D. at the door along with your ticket.
*** ATTENTION STUDENTS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS:
Student tickets are available at a discounted price of $15.00. Please present your student I.D. at the door along with your ticket.
SYNOPSIS
Instances of racial profiling plague minority communities on a daily basis. Director, A.J. Ali is no stranger to this phenomenon. When he and his wife were targeted for harassment by police numerous times in Howard County, Maryland, he was forced to take a stand. Though his attempts at achieving justice through channels offered by the system went unrewarded, he refused to let go of the dream that a solution to the problem could be found. He went on a quest for truth and reconciliation, which led him to find living examples of love in action. "Walking While Black: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer" presents proven action steps to bridge the painful gap between peace officers and the communities they serve. L.O.V.E. is an acronym for Learn about the community and the people in it, Open your heart to the humanity of people in the community, Volunteer yourself to be part of the solution, and Empower others to do the same. Featuring interviews with peace officers, faith leaders, educators, activists and others, the film offers an inspiring blueprint to end racial profiling and heal our communities.
WEBSITE: www.walkingwhileblackthemovie.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/walkingwhileblackthemovie
TRAILER ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/vg8xfQk7Z8U
Organizer A.J. Ali
Organizer of WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E Is The Answer Film at MICA
A.J. Ali is an award-winning producer, director, writer, actor and TV host with more than 30 years of expertise in media and event production. A U.S. Air Force service disabled veteran, his commitment to peace and love informs everything he does personally and professionally. His commitment to community has resulted in more than $30 million raised for charities nationwide through events, media and consulting.
In June 2012, he was racially profiled and harassed by police in Howard County, MD. When he reported the incident, he and his wife became targets for harassment by a dozen members of that department for an entire year. Knowing he had to do something, he chose to rely on his faith, his military training as a peacekeeper, his lifetime of experiences in Hawaii, and his journalism background to make a film that would shine a light on the problem while offering transformative solutions.
As the Director and Producer of the highly-acclaimed feature length documentary film, "WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer," he guided the creative process for 4 1/2 years through completion of production in February 2017 and is now the inspirational force behind the efforts of the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement birthed by the film, putting the principles of L.O.V.E. he created into action through webinars, workshops, conferences and other programs and products. He has become a sought after speaker and trainer of the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer principles, leading more than 100,000 people through sessions as of September 2021. The Howard County Police Department is one of dozens of law enforcement agencies throughout the country that have licensed the film to use in training their officers on better ways to engage with the communities they serve. See the film at www.walkingwhileblackthemovie.com and join the movement at http://loveistheanswermovement.com/.
In his other current media role as Host & Producer of the Wellness 101 game show, he invites consumers and wellness experts to interact with each other, keeping the wellness discussion flowing in fun and meaningful ways. https://www.facebook.com/wellness101life
Ali's credits include co-authoring the "True Champion's 30-Day Challenge" book, authoring two business golf books, creating and starring in the "Good Fellas of Baltimore" TV show on Fox, producing the Hollywood FAME Award winning "Survivor Celebration" music CD, producing the "Positive Choice" documentary film, creating and owning two professional soccer teams, and many other credits. He is even featured as the subject of a 7-page spread in the highly acclaimed Black History 365 textbook, which was published in 2020. He and his wife Jane have been happily married since 1994. They live in Henderson, NV.
To learn more, visit www.OnTheTeeWithAJAli.com.
