Olympic Oaks, Continuing Jesse Owens' Legacy

Follow the life and legacy of Olympic Athlete Jesse Owens and his four gold medal victories in track and field during the 1936 Olympics. Jesse was gifted four oak tree saplings for his accomplishments, which were brought back to Ohio and planted at his mother’s house, East Tech High School, James Ford Rhodes High School, and The Ohio State University. The film explores Jesse’s athleticism and courage, in the face of racism, as well as the journey of Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, Holden Forests & Gardens, and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, on their quest to graft the last of the surviving oak trees to honor Jesse’s story for generations to come.

Join us for the screening and a panel discussion, including: Regennia N. Williams, PhD, Distinguished Scholar of African American History and Culture, Western Reserve Historical Society; Caroline Tait, Vice President for Horticulture and Collections, Holden Forests & Gardens; Tyrone Owens, cousin of Jesse Owens and former Track and Field Coach at James Ford Rhodes High School; Patrick Zohn, Chief Operating Officer, Cleveland Metropolitan School District; and moderator Eric Siler, Instructor of Film, Media Arts, and Communications at Cleveland State University.

Special CIFF Partnership Presentation with:

• The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

• Cleveland Leadership Center | Leadership Cleveland Class of 2020

• Cleveland Metropolitan School District

• Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

• Holden Forests & Gardens

• Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation

• Western Reserve Historical Society