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Everyday Heroes takes a behind-the-headlines look at a diverse group of young adults who give a year of their lives through a San Francisco area AmeriCorps program to tutor and mentor needy kids. Despite their good intentions, they are confronted by a host of obstacles, including a racial divide that threatens to thwart their efforts. While documenting a year both turbulent and exhilarating, the film reveals the hopes and dreams, successes and setbacks of a group of individuals--potentially tomorrow's leaders-- searching for their place in the world and trying, against odds, to make a difference.

Everyday Heroes explores the rewards and the potential difficulties, on both a personal and program level, of national and community service and of service-learning. It provides a stimulating launching-point for discussion about civic engagement and youth leadership development. Issues of race and diversity permeate every scene, with the impassioned voices of the service providers "talking across differences."

Everyday Heroes is an excellent resource for use in the areas of service-learning, civic engagement, race and diversity, communicating common ground, student affairs and youth development, among others. For program directors in the service community or anyone engaged in youth leadership and development, Everyday Heroes is an invaluable tool that can be used for staff, board and member orientation and training, community outreach and organizing, member recruitment, fund-raising, and race and diversity training.

Everyday Heroes is available in both the 109-minute original version, and a new 59-minute version, edited specifically for broadcast on public television. This new version retains the story line, crises, themes, exhilaration and turmoil of the original. Everyday Heroes has a soundtrack that includes music by Tupac Shakur, Ben Harper, Moby, Beth Orton, Ani DiFranco, John Coltrane, Christian McBride, The Braids, Thelonius Monk, Public Enemy, Lemon 'N' Ice and others.

"Anyone who thinks America s youth is in bad shape should see this film; it will give them faith for the future of this nation. This wonderful film should find a home in all libraries should find a home in all libraries and may help encourage viewers to consider volunteering to help America s children succeed."
Danna Bell-Russell, Library of Congress

AWARDS & SCREENINGS:

• Mill Valley Film Festival
• Rhode Island International Film Festival
• Denver International Film Festival
• Broadcast nationwide on public television

Resource Web Sites

www.every-day-heroes.org/

www.americorps.org

www.compact.org