Staff Report
The J
urkowitz Center for Community Engagement is pleased to partner with the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara for the screening of this next film in the beloved “Movies that Matter” series. Series moderator Hal Conklin will be joined by E. Onja Brown-Lawson, President of the Board of Directors of the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara, for a pre-screening discussion with special guest First Lieutenant Victoria Foster of Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Hidden Figures tells the incredible untold story of Katherine Jonson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) – brilliant African-American women working at NASA on the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit. The visionary trio crossed gender and racial lines and inspired generations to follow in their footsteps. The film is rated PG and has a run time of 2 hours and 7 minutes.
First Lieutenant Victoria Foster is an instructor and Range Control Officer, 2 Range Operations Squadron (2 ROPS), 30th Space Wing and Western Range, Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), Vandenberg Air Force Base. The wing’s forces conduct spacelift and range operations, and support operational and developmental missile system testing for the Department of Defense from the West Coast of the United States. Vandenberg AFB is the only U.S. platform for polar orbit launches and the only location to conduct intercontinental ballistic missile testing without over-flying populated areas.
Lt Foster received her commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Business Management. She has held the position of Range Control Officer and recently upgraded to the position of Range Operations Commander in January 2018. Lt Foster was a Range Control Officer for 4 missions which include the Atlas V NROL-79, Minute Man III GT-223, a Naval Air Warfare Center test, and Falcon 9 Iridium 3. She is currently in preparation for her first mission as a Range Operations Commander for the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 PAZ Demosat launch.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara’s mission is to foster positive relationships between the many diverse groups in the Santa Barbara community and the surrounding areas, to sponsor programs and events which exemplify the teachings of Dr. King, and to observe and celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday each January.
“Movies That Matter with Hal Conklin” is made possible through the Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement. This unique film series introduces audiences to extraordinary films that draw out the best in humanity, while connecting to community partners with missions that tie in with the themes of each film. These stories teach about forgiveness, loving others and ourselves, and provide a renewed enthusiasm for living life with compassion and grace. Drawn from the syndicated film series “Cinema in Focus,” these presentations blend together great film with audience conversations and Q&A.
Tickets are $10 or $20 and are available through The Granada Theatre – please click here to purchase or call the Box Office at (805) 899-2222. The Granada Theatre is offering a discounted family pack of four tickets for $25. The discounted ticket family pack is available through the Box Office.
The learn more about the Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement events and opportunities, please contact David Grossman, Director of Community Engagement, at
(805) 899-3000 or
DGrossman@granadasb.org.
