New Special 'Bonnie Boswell Presents' Debuts on KCET in June Featuring an Intimate Conversation With Attorney Bryan Stevenson and Pastor James Lawson
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Los Angeles, Calif. – June 1, 2022 – KCET, showcasing the best of PBS while being the leading source for arts, culture and news in Southern California, announced the June debut of a new special called BONNIE BOSWELL PRESENTS “A Conversation with Pastor James Lawson and Attorney Bryan Stevenson”. From award-winning producer/reporter, talk show host and speaker Bonnie Boswell, executive producer and reporter of BONNIE BOSWELL REPORTS, the special is an intimate look at Pastor James Lawson who has been called “the leading non-violent theorist in the world” and Attorney Bryan Stevenson, oft referred to as “America’s Gandhi.” The two men, generations apart, are both iconic figures at the vanguard of America’s Peace and Justice Movement. BONNIE BOSWELL PRESENTS “A Conversation with Pastor James Lawson and Attorney Bryan Stevenson” premieres Wed., June 15 at 6:30 p.m. on KCET.
Well known to Southern California viewers, Bonnie Boswell is the producer, reporter and host of BONNIE BOSWELL REPORTS, the feature news series that airs during PBS NewsHour Weekend showcasing how Greater Los Angeles has never been more exciting or complex as a place of culture, community and contrasts. Boswell chronicles stories that bridge the gaps in stories of people and ideas that bring us together — stories that all Southern Californians should know. New installments of BONNIE BOSWELL REPORTS airs Fridays at 2:58 p.m. PT on KCET before PBS NewsHour Weekend. The program is also available to stream online at kcet.org/bonnieboswellreports.
Episodes include:
Confronting Childhood Trauma-Part 1 of 3
A 3-part series on Childhood and Trauma kicks off with an interview between Bill Moyers and Host Bonnie Boswell’s late brother Carl Bell, a nationally recognized psychiatrist and leading researcher on the topic.
Confronting Childhood Trauma- Part 2 or 3
The reasons for different responses to childhood trauma are discussed with Dr. Denese Shervington, Chair of Psychiatry at Charles Drew University in Los Angeles.
Confronting Childhood Trauma- Part 3 of 3
California Surgeon General Nadine Burke is championing a program that asks teachers, caretakers and health professionals to become aware of children who have experienced trauma.
Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN) Part 1 of 3
Kevin Rodas, first incarcerated when he was a young teen, discusses his growth at the Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN) and the efforts to use art to heal traumatized youth who have been in the system.
Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN) Part 2 of 3
Bonnie Boswell joins Kevin Rodas at Somos LA Arts Center, a place he calls his second home, along with Director Fabian Debora who explains the healing power of art and his first interactions with Rodas.
Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN) Part 3 of 3
Arts for Healing and Justice Network CEO Elida Ledesma discusses the mission of the organization and the challenges finding funding to continue this work while Director of Criminal Justice for the Urban Peace Institute Josh Green weighs in on the policy side of the discussion of youth diversion programs for formerly incarcerated youth.
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) Part 1 of 4
28-year-old Raven McDowell is one of nearly 2 million women who are released from prison/jail every year in America. Congresswoman Karen Bass describes the “One Stop Shop and Community Re-entry Center” bi-partisan bill designed to help women like McDowell get the support they need to stop the cycle of incarceration and begin a new life.
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) Part 2 of 4
Raven McDowell shares her story involving foster care, drugs, homelessness and incarceration as well as her relationship with The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) once she was released as they are helping her to gain custody of her 6-year-old son.
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) Part 3 of 4
ARC CEO Sam Lewis explains partnerships with other organizations such as Brilliant Corners to support women by helping them find suitable living situations and counseling services. Raven McDowell has returned to Brilliant Corners, but this time she’s there to start a new job as a case manager and help others.
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) Part 4 of 4
Equipped with a job, a car, a new apartment and working toward getting her degree as a substance abuse counselor, Raven McDowell explains how hard work, patience and support have helped her achieve her goal of gaining custody of her son.
Previously, Bonnie Boswell was the executive producer of “The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights,” presented by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House and received critical acclaim from film festivals and reviewers nationwide. She was also the community news reporter for NBC4-Los Angeles where she developed a weekly series around social justice issues and culture. Boswell received a Golden Mike “Best News Special” Award for “Seeds of Peace,” a one-hour special that also aired nationally on six NBC-owned stations that she created, co-hosted and produced on violence in America.
Prior to her work for NBC-4, Boswell was the producer/co-host of “Lawson, Live,” a national call-in talk show on the Hallmark Channel, an associate producer for ABC News’ “20/20,” the producer of “Positively Black,” a local news magazine show on WNBC-New York, and an editorial writer/broadcaster for WNBC-New York. In addition to other awards, she has received a “Public Broadcasting Award for Senior Producers” from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and an “Excellence in Media Award” from Black Enterprise. Boswell’s articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Essence magazine as well as The Radcliffe Quarterly and she has appeared on “The Today Show,” National Public Radio, MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” CNN’s “Talk Back” and “PBS NewsHour with Gwen Ifill.”
Join the conversation on social media: #BonnieBoswell @PBSSoCal @KCET
About KCET
KCET is part of the donor-supported community institution, the Public Media Group of Southern California, which was formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group. As one of Southern California’s two flagship PBS stations, KCET is on-air, online as well as in the community, and plays a vital role in the cultural enrichment of Southern California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 55-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions and its website, kcet.org. For additional information about KCET’s original productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET Originals and PBS programming are available to stream on the FREE PBS App on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast. KCET is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.