Loving husband, father, award-winning professor, author, speaker, and mentor, Dr. Victor Rios is many things to many people. Growing up impoverished in West Oakland, California, a young Victor could not have forecast this life for himself. With no time to dream, he was struggling to survive—stealing cars, joining a gang, and quitting school. Luckily, Victor was drawn into the school system by mentors and teachers who provided opportunities for a healthier path, and 20 years later we see him help other “pushouts” reengage. Joined by an impressive team of his former university students, Victor is intent on arresting the school-to-prison pipeline for a group of teens in Yo! Watts, a program for out-of-school youth directed by one of his mentors, Martin Flores. Victor puts a premium on the teens’ finding trust in themselves and others as they begin the process of crafting their own stories of resilience and success.  WFM

Q&A following screening