NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 16, 2025) — The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle will host a special Juneteenth screening of the Daytime Emmy Award-winning documentary “Leveling Lincoln,” which chronicles the desegregation of New Rochelle schools, on Friday, June 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Remington Clubhouse. The event, directed by Arden Teresa Lewis, is free and open to the public.
The screening includes two sessions: one for Club youth members earlier in the day and a community-wide showing in the evening. Several New Rochelle High School Class of 1977 alumni, who were part of the integrated kindergarten classes bused from Lincoln Elementary School, are expected to attend the evening event to share their firsthand experiences and historical insights.
“The Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle is proud to present this documentary, which chronicles an important era in the history of New Rochelle and our nation,” said CEO Becky Mazzanobile. “We invite all to join us and participate in discussion with those who lives were directly affected, and to hear their first-hand recollections and perspectives.”
“Leveling Lincoln” details the U.S. Supreme Court-ordered desegregation of New Rochelle’s school system in the early 1960s, focusing on the closure of Lincoln Elementary School, which was deemed racially segregated by design. The documentary, featuring archival footage and interviews with former students, educators, and community leaders, underscores New Rochelle’s role as one of the first northern cities to face such a ruling and its connection to the broader civil rights movement.
The event aligns with the Boys & Girls Club’s mission to foster civic education and cultural reflection. Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, marks the 1865 arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas, when enslaved African Americans were informed of their freedom, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The screening aims to spark dialogue about equity, history, and building inclusive communities.
The Remington Clubhouse is located at 1 Remington Place, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801. Light refreshments will be provided. For more details about the documentary, visit www.levelinglincoln.com.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.