From the Action News Now.

April 29, 2026 – OROVILLE, Calif. – Erin Gruwell, the California teacher who’s story inspired the famed 2007 movie Freedom Writers, visited the Butte County Juvenile Hall on Wednesday. She goes around the country visiting juvenile halls and speaking to students.

Scott Bailey, a teacher at the juvenile hall and a graduate of the Freedom Writers Teachers Program, brought Gruwell’s approach to Butte County—using writing and shared stories to help kids heal and leave juvenile hall better than they came in.

Bailey has taught his students the Freedom Writers Diary and started a writing exchange. Incarcerated youth in Butte County connect with youth in Shasta County through writing letters.

… Gruwell says through the program, these kids begin to see they can be Freedom Writers too. Some even go on to become published authors themselves.

“We believe that doing a bad thing doesn’t make you a bad person. So all of these kids here are getting that second chance they need,” Gruwell said. “I believe that the staff here, incredibly and authentically, is loving these kids back to life.”

…

Gruwell says she was blown away by the kids at the Butte County Juvenile Hall, by their love and their resilience. She says her work there isn’t done, and plans to come back again and again.

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Read the full article here.