Erin Gruwell Biography

Erin Gruwell is a teacher, an author, and an activist who has been fighting for social justice for over two decades. She first gained national attention in 1998 when she and her 150 students appeared on the ABC special "PrimeTime Live" with Connie Chung.

Gruwell's students - affectionately called the Freedom Writers - came from backgrounds of poverty, gangs, and violence, and many were at-risk of dropping out of school due to the school-to-prison-pipeline. But, under Gruwell's guidance, all 150 Freedom Writers graduated from high school and pursued higher education.

In 1999, Gruwell and the Freedom Writers published their book, "The Freedom Writers Diary," which detailed their unique journey from hardship to hope. The book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a major motion picture, "Freedom Writers," starring two-time Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank as Gruwell. The film brought Gruwell's work to an even wider audience, and she has since used her platform to continue her fight for equity and inclusion with her non-profit, the Freedom Writers Foundation.

Gruwell's work has been recognized with several humanitarian awards, including the prestigious Spirit of Anne Frank Award. Gruwell and the Freedom Writers have appeared on multiple television shows to promote educational reform, including "Oprah," "The View," "Good Morning America," and NBC's "TODAY." They have also been featured on National Public Radio, numerous newspapers, and national magazines, such as People. In 2019, Gruwell and the Freedom Writers were the subjects of the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary "Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart." Gruwell also hosts The Freedom Writers Podcast with guests who are authors, activists and civil rights icons.

In 2022, Gruwell and the Freedom Writers Foundation released their latest book, "Dear Freedom Writer." This critically acclaimed book combines heartfelt letters written by the next generation of student authors with deeply personal responses from the original Freedom Writers.

Be it in the classroom, or otherwise, Gruwell’s powerful message of hope and possibility is sure to resonate with any audience, whom she encourages “to stand up, speak up and speak out.”

BOOK Erin Gruwell

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/10/2025.

Erin Gruwell Speaking Topics

  • Becoming A Catalyst For Change

    Erin Gruwell helped 150 of her students

    • many of whom were written off by the education system

    • to use the power of education to write a book, graduate from high school and attend college. In her inspiring presentation, Gruwell tells the story of this extraordinary journey

    • from poverty and despair to hope and promise

    • with stops at Anne Frank's House and Auschwitz and then on to Capitol Hill and Congress.

    Erin challenged her students to overcome the seemingly insurmountable problems of poverty, racism, violence. How can we all become role models for tolerance, respect, and cooperation? Erin Gruwell teaches us all how we can become "Catalysts for Change."

  • Nurturing the Leader Within

Read More +

Erin Gruwell Videos

Ep3: "Educating children well is the ultimate sharing economy," Erin Gruwell, "Freedom Writers"

Ep3: "Educating children well is the ultimate sharing economy," Erin Gruwell, "Freedom Writers"

January 2024: A Note from Actuary and Author Peter Neuwirth, FSA, FCA, host, Money Mountaineering, The Sharing Economy — I invite you to tune in...

Walden University: An Interview with Erin Gruwell

Walden University: An Interview with Erin Gruwell

Walden University Interim President Dr. Ward Ulmer and Freedom Writers Foundation Founder Erin Gruwell discuss opportunities for educating diverse...

Freedom Talk #1: "What Storytellers Do"

Freedom Talk #1: "What Storytellers Do"

Erin Gruwell talks about the Freedom Writers story and what it means to use your voice to stand up for justice.

  • How do I book Erin Gruwell to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Erin Gruwell

    Speaking fees for Erin Gruwell, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Erin Gruwell are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Erin Gruwell, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Erin Gruwell speak about?

  • Where does Erin Gruwell travel from?

    Erin Gruwell generally travels from Long Beach, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Erin Gruwell is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Becoming A Catalyst For Change, Nurturing the Leader Within, Teaching Tolerance and Achieving the Impossible: Become a Catalyst for Change. The estimated speaking fee range to book Erin Gruwell for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Erin Gruwell generally travels from Long Beach, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Keith L. Brown, Liz Dozier, Robyn Jackson, Doug Lemov and Dr. Sharroky Hollie. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Erin Gruwell for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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