VIRTUAL EVENT
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 at 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (ET)
Serving victims of child abuse and their families.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 at 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (ET)
VP Of News Programming And Executive Producer Of Nick News At Nickelodeon
Laguerre-Wilkinson has reported from the far corners of the world and covered domestic stories including Hurricanes Katrina in New Orleans and Sandy in New York. Her Haitian roots have made her an invaluable producer on CBS News coverage of the country, including an Emmy-nominated 60 MINUTES report on the deadly earthquake there in 2010.
Most recently, she produced stories on the political divide in the United States with “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, Oprah Winfrey, as well as profiles of French street artist, JR and the new music director of the New York Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden.
Laguerre-Wilkinsin also served as a correspondent for the “60 Minutes” online franchise, “60 Minutes Overtime” and for CBS News. She was also a reporter for the CUNY-TV program, “Arts in the City” and a contributing host for the Carnegie Council’s program, “Ethics Matter”.
Laguerre-Wilkinson worked as an associate producer and producer for anchorman Tom Brokaw at NBC News before joining CBS.
The native New Yorker lives in Manhattan with her husband, Bruce, and their daughters, Juliette and Joséphine.
Author of “God, If You’re Not Up There I’m F*cked”
Hammond has brought a great number of wonderful impressions to SNL over the years. Television critics and viewers alike, for their accuracy and range, have applauded each and every one of his impressions. Amongst the great number of people he has impersonated include; Bill Clinton, Sean Connery, Regis Philbin, Dan Rather, John Travolta, Jesse Jackson, Richard Dreyfus, Jay Leno, and Ted Koppel.
In addition to his SNL appearances, Hammond has been seen in a number of feature films and television shows. As a truly versatile actor Darrell has displayed his talents in both dramatic and comedic roles. Some of his feature films include: Screen Gems feature WEINERS and the Regency feature BOB BAILEY’S DISCO BALLS. He has also starred opposite Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen in Warner Bros’ NEW YORK MINUTE and in the Dimension features SCARY MOVIE 3 and SCARY MOVIE 6. He shared the screen with Frankie Muniz and Hillary Duff in MGM’s AGENT CODY BANKS. Darrell also starred with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin in El Dorado Picture’s THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER. He received tremendous amount of reviews for his portrayal as a deranged but intense criminal defense lawyer in Dick Wolf’s LAW AND ORDER: SVU. Additionally, he did a guest spot on NBC’s THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN. His other film credits include an appearance in Universal’s BLUES BROTHERS 2000 which also starred Dan Aykroyd, and Disney’s CELTIC PRIDE. In 1999 he moved audiences everywhere by playing the voice of Master Little in Disney’s animated hit THE KING AND I.
Darrell starred in Bay Street Theatre’s “TRU”, written by Jay Presson Allen and directed by Matt McGarth. Darrell also finished shooting a TBS pilot, HOUND DOGS, as Harry Hound, with director Ron Shelton (Bull Durham & White Men Can’t Jump). Darrell is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, “God If You’re Not Up There, I’m F***ed: Misadventures with Fake Noses, Funny Accents, Addiction, and Saturday Night Live”, which was released by Harper Collins in October of 2011 to rave reviews.
A Native of Florida, Darrell began doing his impressions and comedy early on in life, but his real pursuit of a career in performing began after graduating from the University of Florida at Gainesville. After college, Hammond spent several years in New York appearing in many off-Broadway productions and honing his stand up at the local comedy clubs. With his acerbic wit and masterful impressions Darrell quickly became a favorite on the comedy circuit. He would also frequently display his comedic styles performing on a wide array of local and national radio stations.
Although it was a dream come true for Darrell to be a regular on NBC’s SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, one of Hammond’s biggest honors came at our nation’s capital in April 1997. During a surprise appearance with President Bill Clinton, Hammond was widely praised by the media for his dead-on impression of the President at an event before a great number of government officials and members of the Washington Press Corps. In an equally as impressive fete at 2001’s WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS DINNER, Darrell received a standing ovation for his performance in front of 2000 press people and President George W. Bush.
Darrell continues to move audiences with his comedy, performing in New York and throughout the entire country. As an actor he continually looks for new challenging roles to expand his talents in Film and Television. His recent television appearances include Criminal Minds, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Damages, and Dreamcorps, LLC.
He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller God, If You’re Not Up There I’m F*cked, which was just released as an audiobook on Audible.com narrated by Hammond himself. The film “Cracked Up,” detailing his life and career was shown as part of the DOC-NYC film festival at the end of last year.
In “Cracked Up,” we witness the impact adverse childhood experiences can have across a lifetime through the incredible story of actor, comedian, master impressionist and “Saturday Night Live” veteran Darrell Hammond. Behind the scenes, Hammond suffered from debilitating flashbacks, self-injury and addiction until he came to understand the role that early trauma played in his development. “Cracked Up” creates an inspiring balance between comedy and tragedy, helping us to understand the effects of childhood trauma in a new light, breaking down the barriers of stigma and replacing shame with compassion and hope.
Director/Producer “Cracked Up, The Darrell Hammond Story”
Michelle Esrick is an award-winning filmmaker, poet and social activist. Her most recent film, Cracked Up, The Darrell Hammond Story had it’s theatrical premiere in September 2019 and was released on Netflix May 1st, 2020.
The Hollywood Reporter, Frank Scheck wrote “A moving and powerful portrait of trauma and recovery, Cracked Up will likely prove as therapeutic for many viewers as it clearly is for Hammond himself”.
In Cracked Up, we witness the impact that childhood trauma can have across a lifetime through the incredibly courageous and candid personal story of comedian, actor and Saturday Night Live legend Darrell Hammond. With her unyielding commitment to not just raising awareness but to the actual implementation of trauma-informed care, Esrick, along with Darrell Hammond, made her way to the nation’s Capital where they screened Cracked Up for members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Following the showing, in discussion with the legislators and their staff, Esrick and Hammond reinforced the compelling statement made by the film that childhood trauma is a root cause of addiction – particularly relevant in addressing the enormity of the opioid crisis.
Esrick is proud to have played a role in the adding of nine provisions for trauma-informed care to the ‘Support for Patients and Communities Act’ which was signed into Law on October 24, 2018.
Esrick directed and produced The Wavy Gravy Movie: Saint Misbehavin’ – Executive produced by the late legendary, Academy-Award winning filmmaker, D. A. Pennebaker.
The New York Times, Stephen Holden wrote “Saint Misbehavin’ is an unabashed love letter to the world that defies the cynicism of our age.”
Exploring the man behind the countercultural icon, The Wavy Gravy Movie showcases the humanity and intelligence of this Holy Fool and his devotion to basic human needs. The film originally premiered in 2009 at SXSW and was then seen on Showtime, PBS and Netflix beginning in 2011. On September 24, 2019, Kino Lorber acquired and re-released this much beloved and multi-award-winning film on Amazon Prime. This 10th Anniversary Special Edition DVD includes over fifty-five minutes of extra scenes and other bonus features including two new interviews with Wavy Gravy and his wife Jahanara Romney. Also included is new audio commentary with Wavy Gravy, Jahanara Romney, and director Michelle Esrick!
Esrick Executive Produced the Netflix Original film, Ram Dass, Going Home, featuring spiritual teacher and best-selling author Ram Dass who reflects on love, life and dying. Widely acclaimed, the film was short-listed for a 2017 Academy Award.
In 2018, Esrick directed the acclaimed music video, Let’s Rise! which CNN dubbed the anthem for the March for Our Lives Movement in protest of the gun violence epidemic in America which contributes to adverse childhood experiences for the nation’s school kids. Seen worldwide by over three-hundred-fifty million viewers, Let’s Rise! ranked among the most important protest songs of the year. CNN featured Esrick and her work in a 2018 year-end television special.
In May 2020, Esrick created a new virtual series with Darrell Hammond called Cracked Up, The Evolving Conversation which candidly explores through intimate conversations the many different aspects of childhood trauma and its long term effects as well as how we recover ourselves, help others and change systems to better serve our communities. Special guests have included Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Jane Fonda and Dr. Gabor Mate’.
The Evolving Conversation series is life changing and life saving!”
— Cathy Malchiodi, PHD, Trauma Expert
Author of “The Tricky Part”
Summary of book: “The Tricky Part”
Between the ages of twelve and fifteen, Moran had a sexual relationship with an older man, a counselor he had met at a Catholic boys’ camp. Almost thirty years later, at the age of forty-two, Moran set out to find and face his abuser. The Tricky Part tells the story of this relationship and its complex effect on the man Moran became. Told with startling candor and disarming humor, The Tricky Part carries audiences to the heart of a paradox—that what we think of as damage may be the very thing that gives rise to transformation, even grace.
Links to book:
Buy The Book on Beacon >>
Author of “Never Tell – The True Story of Overcoming a Terrifying Childhood”
Summary of Book: “Never Tell: a True Story of Overcoming a Terrifying Childhood” Catherine McCall’s “Never Tell” is her memoir of healing from horrific sexual abuse by her father, a prominent physician in the affluent Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, where she grew up. While to outsiders her family had everything a girl could ever want – cosmopolitan parents, a private education, and even two baby grand pianos – it was a façade, hiding her father’s terrible secrets. As an adult, married, and with four daughters of her own, Catherine’s flashbacks began to unravel the past, as she and her husband struggled with her resultant PTSD. Never Tell describes in detail the power of her experiences as a patient in long-term therapy, and thus bears witness to the possibilities of healing from the complex traumas of abuse.
Author of “Etched in Sand”
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