Erin Gruwell is a teacher, an education activist, and the founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation. Inspired by Anne Frank, Gruwell and her students captured their collective journey in The Freedom Writers Diary. Through poignant student entries and Gruwell’s narrative text, the book records their “eye-opening, spirit-raising odyssey against intolerance and misunderstanding.” Gruwell and her students have appeared on numerous television shows, including Oprah, Barbara Walters’ The View and Good Morning America, to name a few. Gruwell and the Freedom Writers have earned dozens of awards, including the prestigious Spirit of Anne Frank Award. Gruwell is a graduate of the University of California Irvine, where she received the Lauds and Laurels Distinguished Alumni Award. She earned her Master’s Degree and teaching credentials from California State University Long Beach, where she was honored as Distinguished Alumna by the School of Education.