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PartnersTalks: Perspectives on Bullying
Saturday, May 8 | 5:00 p.m. ET
Co-hosted with the Illinois Chapter, join the director and special guests to discuss this coming-of-age film about a young man bullied for his excessive weight whose life majorly shifts after falling in love with a blind girl who teaches him how to be accepted
and loved. James Choi, the award-winning producer of the 2019 indie film Saint Frances, made his directing debut with Empty Space.
Panelists: 
James Choi
James Choi has produced two critically acclaimed female-led features films. The first, Made in China by writer/director Judi Krant, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Feature and Best Female Director Award at South by Southwest (2009). The film received distribution by IFC films. More recently, Saint Frances, an indie dramedy by writer/lead actor, Kelly O’Sullivan, won the Jury Award for Breakthrough Voice and The Audience Award at South by Southwest (2019). The film distributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories has garnered two Gotham Awards nominations and a nomination for the Cassavetes Award at the 2021 Spirit Awards.
James made his directorial debut with Empty Space, a multi award-winning feature film written by Judi Krant. The story centers on a young man bullied for his excessive weight and whose life majorly shifts after falling in love with a blind
girl. This micro-budgeted feature was released theatrically in South Korea through cMovie Asia and is currently available on most digital platforms through Cow Lamp Films.
James is based out of Chicago and also teaches film at DePaul University
School of Cinematic Arts.
Julia Silva
Julia Silva was a staff member with the American Psychological Association (APA) from June 1997 to June 2020. During her tenure at APA, Ms. Silva was responsible for the development and coordination of two multisite interventions: ACT Raising Safe Kids Program, a parenting education/child maltreatment prevention program implemented in 14 states in the U.S. and in 12 countries -- and The Effective Providers for Child Victims of Trauma Program, a trauma and trauma-informed care training program for mental health and welfare professionals.
She also has vast experience in developing and conducting in-person and Web-based training on violence prevention, childhood adversities, childhood trauma, parenting, Evidence-Based cross-cutting mental health treatments, youth and community violence, immigration and trauma.
She represented APA in national coalitions and working groups on violence and prevention, child maltreatment, child welfare, immigration, and trauma.
 Merrick Robison
Based in Chicago, Merrick is an experienced actor and singer on both stage and screen. Notable appearances include NBC's Chicago Fire and Agency Theatre's Chagrin Falls.
Apolinar Salcedo
Apolinar (Polo) Salcedo is a blind attorney and a former mayor of the city of Cali, Colombia. He is the founder of Gestos de Equidad Social (GES, Gestures of Social Equity) and co-founder of Asociación Nacional de Municipios con población Afrodescendiente (AMUNAFRO, National Association of Municipalities with Afro-descendant Population).
Moderator:
 Ariani FriedlMs. Ariani Friedl is the Founder and Director of MOSTRA: Brazilian Film Series and currently serves as member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois-Sao Paulo Chapter of Partners of the Americas, the International Latin Cultural Center of Chicago, and the Grant Park Conservancy. She is also a member of the Chicago Council of Brazilian Citizens at the Brazilian Consulate and the Regional Director Elect and Regional Leadership and Organizational Development Director for the Y Service Clubs International of the U.S. area.
Language:
Important Information About Registering for PartnersTalks
- After completing the online registration, please complete the Zoom Webinar registration found in the confirmation email and "Thank you" page to get the link and access information.
- Partners of the Americas will send a reminder message for the event to registered participants 1 hour before the event begins.
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