Co-Directors: William Gazecki & Sheila Laffey
Co-Producers: Sheila Laffey & William Gazecki
Associate Producer: Timothy Kitz
Executive Producer: Dale Rosenbloom
Format: Feature Length

The national high school dropout rate in America is 1 in 3 – and that rate is dramatically higher in urban areas such as Los Angeles, the backdrop for Show Me the Way. This startling trend cannot be blamed on just one aspect of a child’s life — parents, society, school, peers – the problem is systemic and must be dealt with in a holistic manner. Follow the stories of five urban high school kids with very diverse needs and backgrounds as they navigate the challenges of home and school life while utilizing the dedication of a Mentor. This film demonstrates the importance of the mentoring partnership to these children’s lives as they attempt to realize their dreams and pull themselves out of poverty via education and very hard work.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, himself a beneficiary of a powerful mentoring relationship in his youth, shares his story as well, and points out the difficulties facing young people today not just in Los Angeles, but across the U.S. Our current socio-economic system is failing our children – the very future of our cities and our nation. Show Me the Way is an inspiring jolt of hope that could bring us back to basics: the importance of one-on-one caring and respect to a young person trying to find their way in an increasingly violent and indifferent society.