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Dedrick – is a 7-year old boy from the most hardscrabble section of Liberty City in Miami. After years in foster care, Dedrick returned home only to become a firsthand witness to the community violence of the local street drug trade. He saw his mother become a repeated victim of domestic assault and was shot at during a violent shootout in his own home. As a result of being exposed to this trauma, Dedrick developed a fragile emotional state - ranging from quiet sobbing to violent, frustrated outbursts – that made learning in school increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, his family was unable to afford adequate treatment for the disorder and Dedrick has since failed 1st grade and been kicked out of several schools for violently acting out. His mother has a renewed conviction to provide stability for her children and has found subsidized housing in a slightly better neighborhood where Dedrick is about to embark on his second attempt at 1st grade. With little access to support resources, Dedrick will try to stay in school and not succumb to the emotional damage caused by the community around him. |
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