Maria Reyes

Maria Reyes is one of the original Freedom Writers, a group of students whose high school experiences became the basis for the educational story depicted in the book "The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them" and the film "Freedom Writers." Reyes grew up in Southern California in a family with a history of gang involvement. At age 11, she became a third-generation gang member and experienced significant loss due to gang violence. During her teenage years, Reyes spent time in juvenile detention centers before being given the choice to attend high school. Her probation officer enrolled her at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, where she joined Erin Gruwell's English class and became an original Freedom Writer.

Reyes and her classmates, a diverse group of students from various backgrounds, were initially labeled as unteachable. Inspired by figures such as Anne Frank and the stories they read in class, the students adopted the name Freedom Writers and chronicled their journey in "The Freedom Writers Diary." Despite being told they had little chance of graduating, all 150 students completed high school, with many pursuing higher education. Reyes inspired the character Eva in the film adaptation "Freedom Writers."

The Freedom Writers' story extended beyond the classroom. The group organized "Echoes of the Soul," a fundraising concert that supported their trip to Washington, D.C., where they visited the Holocaust Museum and presented their diary to the Secretary of Education. They also traveled to Europe, visiting Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam, concentration camps in Germany and Poland, and meeting Zlata Filipovic in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Reyes and her classmates have appeared on television programs including Oprah, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Prime Time Live, The View, Good Morning America, and C-SPAN's Book TV.

Reyes has served as a keynote speaker for events such as the Anti-Defamation League's Annual Governor's Holocaust Remembrance Program. As a spokesperson for the Freedom Writers, she has shared her story on television and in "Freedom Writers." Reyes earned a bachelor's degree from California State University Long Beach and has spoken nationally about the power of education, literacy, and the importance of providing second chances for students. Her experiences overcoming violence, systemic disadvantage, and low expectations through education continue to resonate with educators, community leaders, and at-risk youth, highlighting the transformative potential of literacy and compassionate teaching.