On May 3, 2012, Nine Community Cinema in St. Louis Missouri held a public screening of “Strong!” at the Missouri History Museum. A formidable figure, standing at 5’8″ and weighing over 300 pounds, Cheryl Haworth struggles to defend her champion status as her lifetime weightlifting career inches towards its inevitable end. Strong! chronicles her journey and the challenges this unusual elite athlete faces, exploring popular notions of power, strength, beauty, and health.

Nine Academy Community Producer, Ed Reggi recorded these community reactions after the screening.

You can learn more about the Nine Community Cinema film series at:

‪http://www.ninenet.org/community-cinema‬

On April 5, 2012, Nine Community Cinema in St. Louis Missouri held a public screening of “Hell and Back Again,” at the Missouri History Museum. What does it mean to lead men in war? What does it mean to come home — injured physically and psychologically — and build a life anew? In Hell and Back Again two overlapping narratives are intercut — the life of a Marine at war on the front, and the life of the same Marine in recovery at home — creating both a dreamlike quality and a strikingly realistic depiction of how Marines experience this war.

Nine Academy Community Producer, Ed Reggi recorded these community reactions after the screening.

You can learn more about the Nine Community Cinema film series at:

‪http://www.ninenet.org/community-cinema‬

In this Issue

Message from the President, Public Media Commons, Here’s Johnny, Nine Networking and Nine to Grow On

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Living St. Louis producer Ruth Ezell profiles American Roots musician Pokey Lafarge.

On March 26, 2012, Nine Community Cinema in St. Louis Missouri held a public screening of “Revenge of the Electric Car,” at the Missouri History Museum. Today, the electric car is back with a vengeance. Director Chris Paine takes his crew behind the closed doors of Nissan, General Motors, the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors, and an independent car converter named Greg “Gadget” Abbott to find the story of the global resurgence of electric cars. With the goal of weaning the country off of foreign oil, this new generation of automobiles promises to be America’s future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever.

Nine Academy Community Producer, Ed Reggi recorded these community reactions after the screening.

You can learn more about the Nine Community Cinema film series at:

‪http://www.ninenet.org/community-cinema‬

There is a national debate about raising the minimum dropout age to 18, but in 1900, Americans were debating whether education should be required at all. And when the Missouri legislature passed a compulsory education law, the governor vetoed it.

Learn about our community partnership to raise graduation rates at nineNet.org/americangraduate.

Living St. Louis producer Angela Antkowiak explores the Hi-Pointe theatre with manager Brian Ross and learns how this neighborhood landmark has been delighting St. Louis movie goers for 90 years.

More than 30 musicians will perform to raise money to help defray Terry’s medical expenses, and the trumpeter plans to appear at the event via Skype. Suggested donation is $25 at the door; checks should be written to Jazz Foundation of America with “Clark Terry account” in the memo line. Donations also can be sent to Jazz Foundation of America, 322 W. 48th Street, New York, NY 10036.

Find out how you can make a donation online and learn more about the event at jazzfoundation.org/clarkterry.

Living St. Louis producer Ruth Ezell profiles jazz trumpeter, jazz education pioneer and St. Louis native Clark Terry.

Learn more about Clark Terry by reading his bio on pbs.org.