The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) will host a showing of the documentary film “Sweet Dreams” at The Strand Theatre in Seymour on April 9th at 6 p.m.
The film chronicles the experiences of female survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and their journey to entrepreneurship.
April marks the 20th anniversary of the genocide and while other films have documented the atrocity of the Rwandan genocide, “Sweet Dreams” is telling a new kind of story — the story of remarkable women who dared to dream of new possibilities for themselves and their country by launching the first ever ice cream shop in Rwanda.
The event is sponsored by Ion Bank Foundation as part of their financial education commitment to women entrepreneurs and the community. Ion Bank Foundation is pleased to support WBDC’s efforts on behalf of women entrepreneurs in Connecticut and around the globe” says Jayne Kelly, SVP Commercial Lending.
WBDC was intimately involved with the Rwandan women featured in the film. Fran Pastore, WBDC CEO was part of the training team who travelled to Rwanda with the NYC based Business Council for Peace in 2010 to provide financial and business training to the ice cream entrepreneurs. WBDC is recognized locally, nationally and globally for their expertise in entrepreneurial training and technical assistance for women entrepreneurs. Economic Equity for all women is the cornerstone of the organization’s work.
“The screening of this film is one of the many ways in which WBDC brings to Connecticut the economic impact of the global women’s entrepreneurship movement. We are honored to share this inspiring film and the work of WBDC with the Connecticut community” says Pastore.
Directed by award-winning Litchfield, CT filmmaker Rob Fruchtman, “Sweet Dreams” is about the emergence of a group of Rwandan women as budding entrepreneurs; their struggles to build their cooperative – including their delight as they learn to make and taste ice cream for the first time. The film will be followed by a question and answer session featuring Fruchtman, Pastore and Alexis Missen, owner of Blue Marble Ice Cream in Brooklyn, NY and the driving force behind the entire Sweet Dreams project in Rwanda.
The “Sweet Dreams” screening will take place on April 9, 2014 at 6 pm at The Strand Theatre. The theater is located at 165 Main Street, Seymour, CT.
Tickets are available free of charge on a first come first serve basis. Seating is extremely limited. You must reserve your seat in advance by visiting the WBDC website at www.ctwbdc.org Please call Amanda Allen at 203 – 925-0686 if you have questions. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served.
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The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to economic equity for women in Connecticut. WBDC is the leader of entrepreneurial and financial training for women in Connecticut and has been educating, empowering and promoting women through entrepreneurship, financial education and expanded career opportunities for 17 years. For more information visit www.ctwbdc.org.
