Anna Toomey, Documentary Filmmaker
Join us for an intimate and powerful conversation with Emmy Award-winning producer and director Anna Toomey, whose acclaimed new documentary Left Behind shines a light on a long-overlooked crisis in public education and dyslexia.
Approximately 200,000 students in New York City’s public schools are dyslexic, yet no public initiative exists to provide the specialized care they need. Left Behind tells the story of a group of determined mothers who, after watching their children struggle and slip through the cracks, band together to do the unthinkable—open the city’s first public school for dyslexic students.
Through candid interviews and behind-the-scenes moments, Anna captures a raw and remarkable journey of grassroots advocacy, motherhood, and system-shaking leadership.
With a career that includes Good Morning America, ABC News, and Peter Jennings Reporting, Anna is known for crafting stories that don’t just inform—they ignite change. In this virtual event, she’ll share the creative and emotional process behind the film, her passion for equal access to education and giving every child a fair chance to succeed.
Please note: we will not be watching the film during the digital event, but we will have the opportunity to hear directly from Anna and some of the courageous mothers featured in the documentary. It’s a rare chance to engage in meaningful dialogue about the creative process, the advocacy journey, and the impact of sharing these powerful stories.
If you’re interested in watching the documentary, please join us in person the evening before the Zoom—on May 20th from 6:30–8:00pm at the Gorton Community Center—where Suite Escape will present a special screening of Left Behind.
If you’d like to bring this moving and impactful documentary to your own community, please reach out to Anna Toomey at annatoomey@me.com.
This Suite Escape-hosted Zoom is part of our commitment to amplifying the voices and visions of women creatives and changemakers. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from Anna, explore how storytelling drives systemic change, and engage in meaningful conversation about education, equity, and igniting change for the better.
This event will be recorded and available to download for all registrants. Please note a 24-hour cancellation notice is required for a full refund.