Hollywood Freedom Writer Will Speak September 10, 2010 in Fort Wayne, Indiana

PR Newswire (press release) - An Original Freedom Writer, Manuel V. Scott, whose story is told in the Hollywood movie, Freedom Writers, starring two-time Academy Award winner Hillary Swank, will be the keynote speaker at four events on Friday, September 10, 2010 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

At 7:30 A.M., Manuel will deliver a keynote address, "The True Heroes of the World," to 350 area business people who volunteer as tutors for students who need extra help.  Scott will celebrate them for making a difference in the lives of young people.  "I know that people are very busy, but I want to let them know that on their worst day, they can be a child's best hope," says Scott.

At 9:30 A.M., Scott will speak to Alternative High School students about their power to change the direction of their lives. Scott says, "I hope to give them a glimpse of their own possibilities."

At 11:00 A.M., Scott will speak to the Urban League and the NAACP, helping them kick off one of their new initiatives to get more young people interested in reading.

At 1:30 P.M., Mr. Scott will speak to high school students about Dreaming Big.

Manuel Scott's unique message is one that has entertained, educated, and empowered over a million people, helping them make the most of their lives. His is an against-the-odds story of immeasurable courage, strength and determination to overcome extreme adversity. His message leaves audiences not only awed and inspired, but also moved towards change. No one who hears Manuel's incredible story will ever be the same.

"I was once dismissed as 'unreachable' and 'unteachable,' and classified as an 'English as a Second Language' student," says Scott. At the age of fourteen, Manuel dropped out of school, and began to fulfill the awful prediction that he would be either dead or in jail by the age of eighteen.  "When I look back over my life, I now see that I was heading down a path that would have destroyed me."