The Strand Theatre will screen the movie Left Behind on Tuesday, July 8, at 5:30 p.m. Left Behind tells the powerful story of a group of passionate mothers who unite to create the first public dyslexic school in New York City, the largest school district in the country. A discussion with director Anna Toomey and literacy specialist Alison Babb Brott will follow the screening.  

"Dyslexia impacts one in five children worldwide, yet while 20% of the population has this learning difference, a staggering 48% of incarcerated individuals are dyslexic," said a news release. "Families without financial means often lack access to essential testing and tailored curricula that their children desperately need. In a city like New York, where 70% of students are Black and Brown, around 200,000 children are left without the support they need to thrive. Kareem Weaver, who heads the Education Committee for the NAACP in Oakland, CA, and a key figure in our film, calls this the defining civil rights issue of our time. 

"Dyslexia is not a barrier to success; many high-profile dyslexics—including 35% of entrepreneurs, filmmakers, musicians, and actors—prove that. Their unique brain wiring can hinder letter recognition but enhance creativity, risk-taking, and innovative thinking. This film emphasizes the loss of potential brilliance and showcases a group of mothers fighting for equality in our education system. They aim to spark outrage, inspire hope, and ignite a desire for action among viewers."

Visit leftbehindthefilm.com for more information. 

Tickets are $10/General Admission, $8/ Seniors, and $7/Strand Members. Tickets are available online at www.RocklandStrand.com, by calling the box office at (207) 594-0070, or at the walk-up box office 30 minutes prior to showtime.

For more information, visit www.RocklandStrand.com. 

The Strand Theatre is located at 345 Main Street, Rockland.