"I really wanted to attend an institution that was somewhat of a community -- something small -- and to connect with professors and with the administration and have them know my name. And, because of MCLA's internship program, I was able to get my foot in the door at a very prominent company which jump-started my career."
Christina Barrett '03 Director of Marketing & Communications, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce
News & Press Releases
March 31, 2008
NORTH ADAMS, MA – On Tuesday, April 15, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) with WGBY, public television for western New England, will present “Child Brides: Stolen Lives,” at 7 p.m. in Murdock Hall room 218.
The screening is free and open to the public. It will be followed by a question and answer session with Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Senior Correspondent Maria Hinojosa.
From the PBS weekly newsmagazine, NOW on PBS, the documentary reports on child marriage in developing countries and how people can act locally and globally to solve the problem.
An estimated 100 million girls will be married over the next 10 years, and the hour-long special, “Child Brides: Stolen Lives” marks the first time the subject has been documented in a primetime television newsmagazine. Young girls from Niger, India and Guatemala are the subjects of this documentary.
In the program, Hinojosa takes viewers on a journey of sorrow, healing and hope, including scenes of an illegal midnight wedding in India where children as young as three are married. In each country, she reports on the work of community members who are campaigning to end the centuries-old practice of child marriage – sometimes putting their own lives at risk.
Child brides typically experience high rates of childbirth complications, HIV infection and partner violence. Child marriage also traps families in a cycle of poverty.
“Child marriage is today what female genital mutilation was 10 years ago – a global issue affecting millions of girls and women, yet one few people are talking about,” said Hinojosa. “I was moved and inspired by the people I met working at the community level to bring an end to this practice.”
In addition to serving as the senior correspondent for NOW, Hinojosa has hosted “Latino USA” on National Public Radio (NPR) since 1995. She hosted the WNBC-TV public affairs show “Visiones” before joining CNN in 1997, where she worked for the New York City bureau for eight years and became known for reporting urban issues.
She has won many honors and awards, including being named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine, the Robert F. Kennedy award, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Radio Award, the New York Society of Professional Journalists Deadline Award, the National Council of La Raza's Ruben Salazar Communications Award and an Associated Press award.
“Child Brides: Stolen Lives” was produced by Amy Bucher. Full credits include Hinojosa, Senior Producer Lesley Norman, and Executive Producer John Siceloff. The production team consulted extensively with experts on the subject in the development of the film. The International Center for Research on Women and the Population Council provided assistance.
Production funding for “Child Brides: Stolen Lives” was provided by the Nike Foundation. The United Nations Population Fund and the UN Foundation provided outreach funding.
