Our Nominee For The NJ Governor's Jefferson Award

Kinyarwanda

Alrick Brown, graduate of Plainfield High School, Rutgers, and NYU, is an award winning internationally renowned filmmaker, earning numerous awards and honors. His first feature film “Kinyarwanda” won the prestigious 2011 Sundance World Cinema Audience Award, and received three NAACP Image awards nominations. Brown took a group of Plainfield, NJ students to Sundance, for a once in a lifetime opportunity to document his journey. An entire PHS class was cast and included in all aspects of filming during the making of Kinyawaranda, positions both on screen and behind the scenes. A highly sought educator and consultant on the art of storytelling and film, Alrick found his calling in Ghana while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cote d’Ivoire. Alrick is a bridge builder, whether connecting students in NJ to a village in Africa or showing cooperation between Muslims and Christians in “Kinyarwanda.”


For over twenty years he has translated his compassion for humanity, into works of art and service by telling stories that otherwise would not be told; teaching tolerance, forgiveness, and perseverance. In 2009 he directed the play, “A Raisin in the Sun” utilizing local talent in Plainfield, and is currently working with a history class to produce a documentary; and has been the guest speaker for Plainfield PAL's Youth Exposure for three years, which is a mentoring program for middle school students in Plainfield, NJ. Alrick has tirelessly and consistently served every community that he has been a part of, from the Ivory Coast, to NJ and the hallowed halls of Rutgers and NYU. His volunteerism and determination serves as a standard of what one can do when motivated by a willingness to serve. By nominating Alrick for this prestigious award, I am confident that his work in the shadows and background will shine in the light.