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>>> THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF
AMERICAN GRADUATE.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
A PUBLIC MEDIA INITIATIVE MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR
PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
MAJOR SUPPORT COMES FROM NORFOLK
STATE UNIVERSITY.
>> SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
HIGH DEMAND, HIGH REWARD JOBS
YOU WANT AT NORFOLK STATE
UNIVERSITY FNT WORLD NEEDS
PEOPLE WITH DEGREES IN SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, GNAT
AND HEALTHCARE.
NSK STATE LEADS HAMPTON ROADS
WITH WORLD CLASS FACULTY AND
FACILITY.
INTERESTED IN SOLVING COMPLEX
PROBLEMS?
CREATING REAL BREAKTHROUGHS TO
SHAPE THE FUTURE?
OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR FUTURE.
FIND OUT MORE AT NORFOLK STATE
UNIVERSITY, ACHIEVING
EXCELLENCE, SUCCESS BEYOND
MEASURE.
>> WHRO PRODUCED CHALLENGING
CIRCUMSTANCES A DROPOUT
EPIDEMIC, TO LOOK AT HOW THIS
CRITICAL ISSUE NOT ONLY AFFECTS
OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE ENTIRE
NATION.
EVERY 26 SECTIONS, A CHILD MAKES
THE DECISION TO DROP OUT OF
SCHOOL AND THEY DO SO FOR A
VARIETY OF REASONS.
BUT REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE,
IT'S A DECISION THAT WILL
PROFOUNDLY IMPACT WHAT THEY WILL
EARN FOR THE REST OF THEIR
LIVES.
AND IT ALSO AFFECTS THE REST OF
US.
IT DEPRIVES OUR COMMUNITY OF AN
EDUCATED WORKFORCE, AND IT ADDS
TO THE COSTS WE BEAR AS
TAXPAYERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE
POVERTY AND CRIME.
IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT WE
CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME.
SOLUTIONS TO THE DROPOUT CRISIS
LOOKS AT INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS DOING JUST THAT.
LATER, WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO GET
INVOLVED.
AND NOW, SOLUTIONS TO THE
DROPOUT CRISIS.
>> IF YOU THINK THIS REGION'S
DROPOUT CRISIS IS SOMEONE ELSE'S
PROBLEM, THINK AGAIN.
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, THE
LANDSCAPE CAN AND WILL CHANGE IF
SOMETHING ISN'T DONE TO KEEP
STUDENTS IN SCHOOL.
WITHOUT EDUCATED WORKERS, THE
NUMBER OF JOBS THAT WOULD
DISAPPEAR COULD RUN INTO THE
THOUSANDS, NOT ONLY WITH THE
DWINDLING WORKFORCE CAUSING
PRODUCTION TO STOP, BUT MANY OF
THE SERVICES THAT WE TAKE FOR
GRANTED WOULD VANISH.
SERVICES WE RELY ON FOR OUR VERY
EXISTENCE.
THE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT KEEP STUDENTS FROM
GRADUATING ARE MANY.
POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, AND TEEN
PREGNANCY ARE JUST A FEW.
MONIQUE HARDY ALWAYS WANTED TO
FINISH SCHOOL, BUT DROPPED OUT
OF CHESAPEAKE'S OSCAR SMITH HIGH
SCHOOL WHEN SHE BECAME A TEEN
MOM.
>> I WAS A BED REST AT FIVE
MONTHS.
AND WHEN SHE CAME, IT BECAME A
LITTLE HARD TO DO BOTH, SO I
DECIDED TO, YOU KNOW, JUST STOP
GOING.
>> MONIQUE GOT MARRIED AND
DECIDED TO FOCUS ON FAMILY LIFE.
>> AND WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS
ABOUT 5, LIKE 3 OR 4, I DECIDED
TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, BUT AS SHE
GOT OLDER, SHE NEEDED ME MORE
TOO, SO I HAD TO FOCUS MORE ON
HER.
>> IT WOULD TAKE MONIQUE ANOTHER
FOUR YEARS BEFORE THEY COULD GET
BACK TO HER EDUCATION, BUT SHE
KNEW IF SHE WANTED A BETTER
LIFE, SHE'D HAVE TO, BOUGHT A
LOD HAD CHANGED AND GETTING BACK
TO OUR STUDIES WAS NOT EASY.
>> MY DAUGHTER AND I, WE TALK A
LOT AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION
AND SHE WAS LIKE, MOMMY, DID YOU
PASS THE TEST?
AND I TOLD HER NO, ONE TIME I
DIDN'T PASS.
SHE STARTED CRYING AND SHE WAS
LIKE, MOMMY, I'LL NEVER GET TO
SEE YOU WALK ACROSS THE STAGE.
>> THAT WAS ALL MONIQUE NEEDED
TO HEAR.
SHE WAS NOW DETERMINED TO
FINISH.
SHE CALLS THE ROAD TO GETTING
HER G.E.D. A LONG FIGHT, A
BATTLE SHE FOUGHT AND WON, BUT
NOT ONE SHE'D RECOMMEND.
>> IF YOU HAVE A CHILD AND YOU
CAN GET HELP WITH THE
BABYSITTING AND STUFF, I WOULD
RECOMMEND YOU DO THAT BECAUSE
GETTING A G.E.D. IS HARDER THAN
GETTING A DIPLOMA.
IT IS BEST TO STAY IN SCHOOL.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TOUGH ROAD,
BUT MONIQUE IS NOW A SOPHOMORE
AT BRIAN AND STRATTON COLLEGE,
STUDYING TO BE A MEDICAL
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, AND AS
FOR HER OWN EXPERIENCE, HER
MESSAGE TO HER DAUGHTER
REGARDING HER EDUCATION IS THIS:
>> SHE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO
FINISH.
SHE'S NOT GOING TO FOLLOW
THROUGH WHAT I'VE DONE.
SHE'S GOING TO GO ON.
>> WHILE PREGNANCY IS THE NUMBER
ONE REASON THAT TEENAGE GIRLS
LEAVE SCHOOL, IT'S NOT THE ONLY
ONE.
SOME GIRLS AND BOYS ALIKE
ATTRIBUTE THEIR DECISION TO DROP
OUT TO A LACK OF INTEREST.
THAT WAS LATICIA'S CASE.
>> JUST KIND OF BORING AND I
NEVER REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT
EDUCATION WAS, SO I WAS JUST
GOOFING AROUND, SKIPPING SCHOOL.
I MISSED A LOT OF DAYS IN
SCHOOL, PROBABLY MORE THAN HALF
OF A YEAR.
>> SHE FOUND HER WAY BACK TO A
BRIGHTER FUTURE BY ENROLLING IN
THE VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
CHALLENGE YOUTH ACADEMY.
THE 22-WEEK PROGRAM IS DEDICATED
TO HELPING AT-RISK TEENS GET A
SECOND CHANCE.
THIS BOOT CAMP TYPE ENVIRONMENT
PROVIDED THE DISCIPLINE AND
STRUCTURE THAT LATICIA NEEDED TO
FOCUS AND STAY ON COURSE.
>> CURRENTLY THE MILITARY DOES
NOT TAKE JUST A G.E.D.
THEY WANT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
OR A G.E.D. AND 15 HOURS FROM A
LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I WOULD SAY 2% OF OUR KA DEBTS
GO TO THE MILITARY.
>> I WANT TO GO TO THOMAS NELSON
FOR TWO YEARS AND GO TO A
MEDICAL SCHOOL.
I WANT TO BE A PRENATAL DOCTOR
IN THE AIR FORCE.
EDUCATION IS THE BEST THING YOU
NEED RIGHT NOW.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK
IS IMPORTANT ISN'T IMPORTANT.
>> MOST WHO LEAVE SCHOOL BEFORE
GRADUATING FACE HUGE OBSTACLES.
SOME GET TRAPPED IN THE CYCLE OF
POVERTY.
SOME TURN TO DRUGS OR CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY.
ONE OF THE DROPOUTS' BIGGEST
CHALLENGES IS FINDING WORK.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR
DROPOUTS IS NEARLY TWICE THAT OF
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
IF THE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT FINDS
WORK, IT'S USUALLY NOT A
PERMANENT POSITION, AND THE
REWARDS AREN'T GOOD.
HE OR SHE CAN EXPECT TO EARN
ABOUT $10,000 LESS EACH YEAR MAN
A PERSON WITH A HIGH SCHOOL
THAN A PERSON WITH A HIGH SCHOOL
DIPLOMA.
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED
WORKERS ALSO LOWER AMERICA'S TAX
REVENUES.
THE COST TO SOCIETY IS MASSIVE.
AMERICA SPENDS MORE THAN
$300 BILLION A YEAR PAYING FOR
PROGRAMS LIKE HEALTHCARE, WELL
FAI, AND INCARCERATION.
43-YEAR-OLD RODNEY WILLIAMS
WISHES TO THIS DAY THAT HE'D
STAYED IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATED.
>> WITHOUT NO EDUCATION, THERE
IS NO JOB FOR YOU.
UNLESS IT'S A MANUAL LABOR JOB
AND YOU AIN'T GOING TO KEEP THAT
LONG BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO
BE WORKING IN THE SUN ALL DAY OR
IN THE COLD.
>> RODNEY SAYS THROUGHOUT HIS
LIFE, HE'S GOTTEN INTO QUITE A
BIT OF TROUBLE, TROUBLE HE
BELIEVES HE WOULD HAVE AVOIDED
HAD HE STAYED IN SCHOOL.
>> I'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO
COURT A LOT AND I DO PUT IT ON
NOT HAVING A GOOD EDUCATION
ALSO, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.
IF I HAD A GOOD EDUCATION, I
WOULD HAVE LEARNED THE LAW AND
FOLLOWED THE LAW.
>> BUT RODNEY WILLIAMS' PAST HAS
BEEN PAVED WITH PROBLEMS.
>> A LOT OF TRESPASSING CHARGES,
FAILURE TO APPEARS, PETTY
LARCENY, DRUG CHARGES, A ROBBERY
CHARGE, YOU KNOW.
A LOT OF STUFF THAT EDUCATION
A LOT OF STUFF THAT IF I'D HAVE
WENT TO SCHOOL AND GOT A GOOD
EDUCATION, I COULD HAVE GOT A
GOOD JOB AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT DOING THAT, BECAUSE
I WAS DOING IT TO GET SOME
MONEY.
WHEN YOU AIN'T GOT EDUCATION,
YOU AIN'T GOT NO BALANCE IN YOUR
LIFE, SO YOU REALLY DON'T CARE.
>> HOW DOES THIS AFFECT US ON
THE WORLD STAGE?
MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES WANT TO
COMPETE GLOBALLY, BUT WITHOUT
ANTIDEPRESSANTAN
EDUCATED WORKFORCE, THEIR
ABILITY TO DO SO DECREASING
DRAMATICALLY.
ONE HAND TO ANOTHER IS A LOCAL
PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BRING
AT-RISK STUDENTS UP TO SPEED.
>> WE'RE NOW IN THE SHAMEFUL
POSITION OF HAVING 31 COUNTRIES,
INCLUDING THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND
AUSTRIA WHO ARE AHEAD OF OUR
STUDENTS IN MATH ASSESSMENT
EXAMS.
BY THE YEAR 2018 TO 2025, WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING DEFICIT
IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO
WILL GROW UP AND BE ABLE TO TAKE
THE JOBS THAT ARE WAITING IN
INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
>> STRINGHORN, WHO SERVED AS THE
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
DURING GOVERNOR TIM KAINE'S
ADMINISTRATION, SAYS OVER THE
PAST TEN YEARS COMPANIES HAVE
SPENT $3 BILLION IN FEES
BRINGING FOREIGN NATIONALS HERE
TO TAKE JOBS THAT AMERICAN
STUDENTS ARE UNABLE TO TAKE.
>> WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM THE
RIGHT TOOLS, AND SO IN ORDER TO
BRIDGE THIS PARTICULAR SKILLS
GAP WE HAVE GOING ON WITHIN THE
UNITED STATES, WE NEED TO FIND
ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL PARTNER
WITH CORPORATIONS SO THAT WE CAN
FILL SOME OF THOSE JOBS AND
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE
SHOULDN'T.
WE ARE A CAN-DO COUNTRY.
WE CAN DO THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO
CHANGE OUR STRATEGIES.
>> TURNING THE SITUATION AROUND
IS POSSIBLE, AND THE TOOLS TO DO
IT ARE NOT EXPENSIVE ONES.
BUT IT STARTS WITH A WILLINGNESS
TO BE THAT CATALYST FOR CHANGE.
FROM ONE HAND TO ANOTHER IS
MAKING THINGS HAPPEN BY
PARTNERING WITH KRESLINE HOTELS
AND RESORTS.
>> IT WAS JUST A NATURAL
CONNECTION TO WANT TO GET
INVOLVED BECAUSE I KNEW THAT
MANY OF THE HOUSEKEEPERS THAT
WORKED AT THE OCEANFRONT AND
HERE AT THE WESTIN HAVE KIDS
THAT GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS, LIVE
IN THOSE AREAS, AND TO SEE THEM
BENEFIT FROM SOMETHING WOULD BE
GREAT FOR THEM, FOR THEIR
FAMILIES.
THE OTHER PART ABOUT IT ALWAYS
IS FOR ME, LOOKING FOR
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPOSE CHILDREN
TO OUR INDUSTRY.
>> THE EXECUTIVE CHEF FOR
CRESTLINE'S WESTIN HOTEL AT THE
VIRGINIA BEACH TOWN CENTER LOVES
THE IDEA THAT THEY CAN EXPOSE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THEIR INDUSTRY
AND GET THEM THINKING ABOUT IT
EARLY ON.
SCOTT BURNHEIFEL SHARED HIS
CONVERSATION WITH ONE STUDENT.
BEFORE MEETING SCOTT, THE YOUNG
MAN'S GOAL WAS TO BE A FRY COOK
AT HIS FAVORITE FAST FOOD
RESTAURANT, BUT AFTER SEEING
WHAT SCOTT DOES FOR THE WESTIN,
HE NOW WANTS TO BE A CHEF AND
HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON CULINARY
SCHOOL.
THE UNITED WAY WORKS TIRELESSLY
THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE GIFT LINK
AND VOLUNTEER SERVE TO CONNECT
BUSINESSES, SERVICES, AND
SUPPLIES WITH PEOPLE IN NEED OF
THEM.
>> WE CAN'T DO IT WOULD YOU THE
COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESEARCH THAT
CAME OUT OF BOSTON COLLEGE THAT
SHOWED THAT THE FACTORS THAT
IMPACT EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
FOR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY
CHILDREN IN POVERTY, ONLY 33% OF
THAT RESTS IN THE HANDS OF
SCHOOLS.
67% OF THE FACTORS THAT IMPACT
THE ABILITY OF A CHILD TO
SUCCEED IN EDUCATION RESTS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING ELSE, HOW HEALTHY
THAT CHILD IS, THEIR ACCESS TO
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, BEFORE
SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS,
ALL THOSE SERVICES IMPACT THEIR
ABILITY TO SUCCEED AS A STUDENT.
>> ONE SUCH CONNECTION CAME WHEN
GIFTLINK CONNECTED CHECKERED
FLAG WITH NORFOLK'S P.B. YOUNG
ELEMENTARY.
THANKS TO GIFTLINK AND VOLUNTEER
SERVE, CHECKERED FLAG WAS ABLE
TO SUPPLY THE P.B. YOUNG LIBRARY
WITH BADLY NEEDED SELVES.
>> THREE BOXES OF APPLES, TWO
TRAYS OF EGGS, AND DON'T FORGET
THE CHEESE.
>> FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE NORFOLK'S TRINITY
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ALSO
UNDERSTANDS THE DROPOUT CRISIS
IS EVERYONE'S PROBLEM.
JACK HOWELL, THE CHURCH'S SENIOR
PASTOR, ALONG WITH HIS
CONGREGATION, STARTED WORKING
WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE YOUNG
TERRACE COMMUNITY ABOUT SEVEN
YEARS AGO.
>> WHEN A LARGELY WHITE CHURCH
COMES INTO A COMMUNITY LIKE
THIS, IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO
BEGIN TO BUILD CREDIBILITY IN
THE COMMUNITY AND TRUST,
PARTICULARLY WITH ONE'S
CHILDREN.
SO WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS YOU JUST
KEEP SHOWING UP.
WE KEEP TRYING TO SHOW UP IN THE
MORNINGS TO DO AN EARLY LITERACY
PROGRAM.
WE SHOW UP IN THE AFTERNOONS TO
DO HOMEWORK CLUBS AND TO TRY AND
ADDRESS SPECIFIC LEARNING
DEFICITS OR NEEDS.
WE TRY TO SHOW UP EVERY SUMMER
WITH A HIGH-QUALITY SPORTS AND
ARTS CAMP THAT PROVIDES A SAFE,
FUN ENVIRONMENT FOR THESE
CHILDREN TO RECEIVE SOMETHING
THAT PROBABLY MANY OF OUR
SUBURBAN MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES
WOULD ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED.
>> TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN STARTED
A HOMEWORK CLUB ABOUT THREE
YEARS AGO AND RECENTLY STARTED
AN URBAN GARDEN.
>> MY SECRET WEAPON ARE THESE
KIDS, BECAUSE ONCE I CAN GET MY
ADULTS, MY VERY BUSY WORKING
PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH A CHILD
AND THIS CHILD'S STORY, THEN
THEY'RE IN, AND WE WANT TO SAY
THAT IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF
US, ON THE WEST SIDE, THE EAST
SIDE, EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY
JOINING IN TO CARE FOR THOSE
THAT, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR
OWN, AGAIN, HAVEN'T DONE
ANYTHING TO HAVE THE ABSENCE OF
OPPORTUNITIES OR ACCESS TO
SERVICES OR CARE, AND WE WANT IN
A VERY MODEST WAY TO AMELIORATE
THAT.
>> THE VOLUNTEERS AT EQUI KIDS
IN VIRGINIA BEACH ARE A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF HOW HELPING ONE HELPS
US ALL.
HERE VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH PEOPLE
OF ALL AGES WHO FACE MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL CHALLENGES.
THE RESULTS ARE TWO-FOLD.
INSPIRING AND BOOSTING THE
SELF-ESTEEM OF THE WRITERS WHILE
TOUCHING THE LIVES OF THE
VOLUNTEERS.
>> I THINK IT'S AWESOME JUST
BECAUSE EVERY DAY YOU SEE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE
RIDERS, AND EVERY DAY, THEY GET
OFF THE HORSE WITH SUCH A BIG
SMILE, SO IT GIVES YOU A SENSE
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, JUST BEING A
PART OF THAT AND MAKING THEM
HAPPY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET
INVOLVED WITH KIDS THEIR OWN AGE
FOR REASONS DUE TO DISABILITY.
>> SOME OF THE YOUNGER
VOLUNTEERS ARE STUDENTS FACING
CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES
THEMSELVES.
>> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF YOU
COME OUT HERE, THAT WANT TO
INTERACT WITH OUR HORSES AND
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF YOUTH COME
OUT HERE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
AS WELL AND THAT HAS HELPED THEM
TREMENDOUSLY, PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THE
INTERACTION THAT THESE HORSES
ARE HAVING WITH THE CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES AND IT GIVES
THEM A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, A
SENSE OF PURPOSE ALMOST, THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE THESE
CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT
THEY CAN DO AND GIVING THEM A
SENSE THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING
WHAT SHE SHOULD BE DOING.
>> HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS A YEAR
PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MAKING
SURE EQUI-KIDS RUNS SMOOTHLY.
>> SAY WHAT THE 26-SECOND
CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT, RIGHT?
IS EVERYONE HERE AWARE WHAT IT
IS ABOUT?
THAT A WHO IS STUDENT DROPS OUT
OF SCHOOL EVERY 26 SECONDS.
>> GETTING INVOLVED IN ORDER TO
GENERATE CHANGE IS A MISSION
THAT ONE PENINSULA YOUTH GROUP
TAKES SERIOUSLY.
>> WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE
AWARENESS TO PREVENT HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS FROM DROPPING OUT.
>> YOUTH ACT WORKS TIRELESSLY TO
TURN COMMUNITIES AROUND.
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE REALIZE THAT
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEY PUT
INITIATIVES IN ACTION TO EMPOWER
THEIR PEERS TO STAY ON TRACK,
GRADUATE, AND MAKE THEIR OWN
PLAN FOR SUCCESS.
THESE TEENS ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
PREPARATION IS A KEY FACTOR.
17-YEAR-OLD SHEENA BYNUM, WAS
HAPPY TO SHARE HER THOUGHTS ON
THE CRISIS.
>> I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE
STOPPED.
IT MAKES MORE EFFORT THAN
GETTING THE ISSUE OUT THERE AND
SAYING WE SHOULD DO AND SHOULD
DO, AND ACTUALLY GETTING DOWN
AND GETTING DIRTY AND DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> AND THAT'S JUST WHAT YOUTH
ACT DOES.
THE NAME IS AN ACRONYM FOR YOUTH
ACHIEVING CHANGE TOGETHER.
THESE TEENS, WHO ARE TRAINED AS
LEADERS, JUMP RIGHT IN.
THEY LEARN THROUGH TRAINING AND
FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCES.
>> ME PERSONALLY, I WASN'T
RAISED IN THE TYPICAL HOME WITH
A MOTHER AND FATHER.
I WAS I'VE BEEN IN ABOUT
THREE FOSTER HOMES, SO MY
CHALLENGE THERE WAS ALREADY THAT
I WASN'T STABLE, AND WHEN YOU'RE
NOT STABLE, YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW,
FUNCTION WELL.
>> SOME OF THE YOUTH ACT LEADERS
SAY THERE ARE SO MANY OUTSIDE
INFLUENCES TIED TO THE DROPOUT
CRISIS, BUT WE CAN'T LET THAT
SLOW US DOWN.
>> YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
ARE THE ISSUES THAT MOSTLY
AFFECT THE KIDS IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, WHICH ONE YOU CAN DO
SOMETHING ABOUT, AND HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO DO IT.
>> THE TEENS ALSO IMPLEMENT
TECHNIQUES LIKE HOWARD GARDNER'S
EIGHT INTELLIGENCES TO SHOW
THEIR PEERS THAT PEOPLE LEARN
DIFFERENTLY WHILE TEACHING THEM
HOW TO IDENTIFY THEIR OWN GIFTS
AS WELL AS WHAT CAREERS ARE
CONNECTED TO CERTAIN GIFTS.
>> I THINK FOR A LOT OF THESE
KIDS, IT GAVE THEM HOPE.
LIKE, WOW, I MAY NOT BE GOOD IN
MATH, BUT I'M MUSIC SMART OR I'M
NATURE SMART, AND SO BY LEARNING
HOW THEY WERE INTELLIGENT IN THE
WORLD, IT KIND OF GAVE THEM SOME
OPTIONS.
WOW, MAYBE I COULD BE A
CONDUCTOR.
>> AND THEY DELVE EVEN FURTHER
TALKING TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT
DATING VIOLENCE AND HOW TO HAVE
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH A
PROGRAM CALLED RELATE.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RELATE,
WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME REAL
SENSITIVE ISSUES.
>> THESE YOUNG MENTORS SAY THEIR
PEERS OFTEN RESPOND BETTER WHEN
THEY'RE LEARNING FROM SOMEONE
THEIR OWN AGE.
>> I BELIEVE IT HELPS BECAUSE A
LOT OF KIDS, LIKE, DON'T TAKE
HEED TO WHAT PARENTS SAY, SO IF
THEY HEAR IT FROM SOMEONE IN
THEIR AGE GROUP, THEN THEY START
TO REALIZE THAT THIS STUFF THAT
THEY'RE GETTING FROM THEIR
PARENTS IS TRUE BECAUSE THEY'RE
GETTING IT FROM THEIR PEERS AS
WELL.
>> WE FEEL THAT TRUST IS MOST
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S THE
BUILDING BLOCK OF THE
RELATIONSHIP.
>> INSTEAD OF AN ADULT DOING IT
AND THEN FEELING LIKE, OH, MAYBE
I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS BECAUSE
WE'RE AN ADULT AND THEY MIGHT
JUDGE ME FOR IT, BUT THE PEER
DOING IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT
LEVEL OF COMFORT, SO THEY'RE
RELATABLE TO THEM AS WELL.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
STUDENTS ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE TO
TURN TO EMOTIONALLY, WITH THEIR
EDUCATION.
I MEAN EVERYTHING.
YOU CANNOT DO THIS ON YOUR OWN.
>> NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY IS
ALWAYS WORKING TO MAKE SURE HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS GET THE HELP
THEY NEED TO GRADUATE ON TIME.
NSU'S SPARTAN CRUSADE FOR
ACADEMIC SUCCESS CONNECTS THE
UNIVERSITY WITH SCHOOLS LIKE
NEARBY BOOKSER T. WASHINGTON
HIGH SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE
STUDENTS STAY ON TRACK.
>> THEY MEET ON OUR CAMPUS THE
FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAY OF
EVERY MONTH.
WE ENGAGE THEM IN DIFFERENT STEM
ACTIVITIES FROM MAKING ICE CREAM
USING LIQUID NITROGEN, STUDYING
PHYSICS, LAUNCHING ROCKETS.
WE ALSO WORK WITH THEM ON S.A.T.
PREP.
WE DO VERBAL AND MATH AND WE
ALSO DO COLLEGE PREP WITH OUR
STUDENTS.
>> STUDENTS PREPPING FOR COLLEGE
ENTRANCE EXAMS KNOW THIS KIND OF
EXTRA HELP IS KEY.
>> IT HELPED ME A LOT.
IT HELPED ME LEARN BIGGER WORDS
SO WHEN I DO TAKE THE TEST, I
CAN KNOW SOME WORDS UP THERE.
>> EDUCATORS HERE UNDERSTAND
THAT A SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT IS MORE LIKELY TO GO ON
TO COLLEGE.
>> LAST ACADEMIC YEAR, WE
SERVICED 53 STUDENTS.
IN THE SUMMER, WE HAVE A SUMMER
COMPONENT AND WE HAD
APPROXIMATELY 47 HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS WHO WERE ON OUR CAMPUS
FOR SIX WEEKS.
THEY WORKED THE SIX WEEKS IN ONE
OF THE OFFICES AROUND CAMPUS.
THEY ALSO DID RESEARCH IN ONE OF
OUR SCIENCE LABS ON CAMPUS.
AND THEY ALSO GOT TO EXPERIENCE
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE ON CAMPUS
AND SO THEY STAYED IN THE DORMS
FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEY DID
RESEARCH ON WATER CONSERVATION.
>> IT INSPIRED ME MORE TO GO TO
SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ALL
ABOUT LEARNING.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING FUN SOMETIMES
TOO.
>> MY S.A.T. SCORES WERE A
LITTLE LOW AND MY BROTHER
ACTUALLY INTRODUCED ME INTO THE
PROGRAM.
AND I DID SOME WORK HERE.
WE DID A FEW PRACTICE WE
PRACTICED ON, LIKE, ON READING
COMPREHENSION AND THAT WAS
BASICALLY ALL I NEEDED TO DO,
AND WRITING.
AND IT HELPED ME RAISE MY SCORE.
I HOPE TO GET IN HERE AT NORFOLK
STATE.
A WITHOUT ANTIDEPRESSANT
INDICATION, THERE'S NOT
WITHOUT ANTIDEPRESSANT
INDICATION, THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH
THAT YOU CAN DO AND THERE'S
MONEY OUT THERE, THAT THIS
PROGRAM SHOWED ME THAT,
ACTUALLY, THAT THERE IS A LOT
OUT THERE.
>> EMPLOYERS IN THE HAMPTON
ROADS REGION ARE VERY WELL AWARE
THAT THE MORE YOU LEARN, THE
MORE YOU EARN.
SO MANY COMPANIES HAVE TRAINING
PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO TAKE THE
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE TO THE NEXT
LEVEL.
THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AT
NEWPORT NEWS SHIP BUILDING IS
ONE SUCH EXAMPLE.
THE 126-YEAR-OLD COMPANY IS THE
LARGEST EMPLOYER IN HAMPTON
ROADS AND RELY ON YOUNG PEOPLE
COMING IN TO SUSTAIN IT INTO THE
NEXT SER CENTURY.
>> YOUTH IS A VERY POWERFUL
RESOURCE FOR OUR COMPANY AND
IT'S VERY INTERESTING, AN
AMAZING, AND EXCITING TO SEE
YOUNG PEOPLE COME IN AND REALLY
LEARN THE RIGORS ASSOCIATED WITH
SHIP BUILDING AND FALL IN LOVE
WITH IT BECAUSE QUITE OFTEN,
THEY END UNSTAYING WITH US FOR A
CAREER.
>> ONCE THE STUDENT GRADUATES
FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THE
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ALLOWS
THEM TO EARN WHILE THEY LEARN.
>> TODAY, WE HAVE ALMOST 400
GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL IN
POSITIONS AS WATERFRONT
SUPERVISORS ACROSS OUR COMPANY,
AND THEN AS WELL, WE HAVE ALMOST
400 GRADUATES THAT ARE IN OUR
MIDDLE MANAGEMENT LEVEL AND
ABOVE, GENERAL FOREMEN UP
THROUGH SUPERINTENDENT AND TRADE
DIRECTOR.
SO THESE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST
FROM THE VERY EARLIEST STAGES
ONCE THEY COMPLETE THEIR
APPRENTICESHIP.
WITH VIRTUALLY NO LIMITS TO
WHERE THEY MAY GO.
>> EMILY IS STUDYING TO BE AN
ELECTRICAL DESIGNER AT THE
APPRENTICE SCHOOL.
EMILY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL
AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO COLLEGE,
BUT FOUND SHE COULDN'T AFFORD
IT.
THAT'S WHEN HER FATHER, A FORMER
APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL HIMSELF,
ENCOURAGED HER TO APPLY.
>> YOU GET THE BACKGROUND
TRAINING BEFORE YOU GET THE
POSITION SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
DOING WHEN YOU GET TO SUPERVISOR
OR HIGHER POSITION.
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.
YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED JOB, A
FREE EDUCATION.
YOU GET PAID TO SIT IN SCHOOL SO
YOU'RE BASICALLY LEARNING A
TRADE, GETTING PAID FOR ALL
THAT, SO YOU REALLY CAN'T BEAT
IT.
THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE LIKE
IT AND YOU CAN GET A COLLEGE
EDUCATION, BUT THEN YOU HAVE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF LOANS,
NOT A GUARANTEED JOB, SO I WOULD
DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS.
>> THE IDEA OF APPRENTICE SCHOOL
IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF STUDENTS
AND WORK WITH YOU AND EVEN IF
YOU'RE NOT STRONG ACADEMICALLY,
THEY HAVE PROGRAMS SET UP AND
TEACHERS THAT RALLY AROUND YOU
TO HELP YOU ADVANCE
ACADEMICALLY, AS WELL AS GETTING
YOUR ACADEMICS TO GET ON-THE-JOB
TRAINING.
YOU LEARN A TRADE WHICH WILL BE
VALUABLE IN ANY TYPE OF
SITUATION.
>> THESE STUDENTS AND THESE
GRADUATES WILL ULTIMATELY BECOME
THE LEADERS OF OUR COMPANY FOR
MANY DECADES TO COME.
>> THE REGION'S SECOND LARGEST
EMPLOYER, SENTARA HEALTHCARE,
ALSO HAS TRAINING PROGRAMS IN
PLACE FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATE INTERESTED IN A CAREER
IN THE MEDICAL FLD.
>> THE MOST ENTRY LEVEL
POSITIONS REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL
DIPLOMA OR G.E.D., SO THERE ARE
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES.
>> FORMED INTO 2005, THE SCHOOL
AT WORK PROGRAM ALLOWS SENTARA
EMPLOUS TO ADVANCE IN THEIR
CAREER EVEN FURTHER BY PROVIDING
THEM WITH A COLLEGE-LEVEL
EDUCATION.
>> I'M 27 AND I ALREADY HAVE
REGRETS ABOUT EDUCATION AND HOW
I APPROACHED EDUCATION.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT,
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO PLAY WITH
THE FIRE TO GET BURNT.
WHY EVEN PLAY WITH THE FIRE TO
BEGIN WITH?
>> THE LIKELIHOOD OF YOU
SUCCEEDING WITHOUT A DEGREE,
EVEN WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE
NOW, IS NOT GOOD.
THE PERCENTAGES ARE LOWER, SO
YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE YOUR
EDUCATION IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.
>> SENTARA ALSO OFFERS A VERY
STRONG SENSE OF JOB SECURITY.
>> SO ONCE SOMEONE STARTS A
CAREER AT SENTARA AND CONTINUES
TO DO WELL, THEY WON'T HAVE TO
WORRY THAT DUE TO A BUSINESS
CHANGE OR VOLUME CHANGE, THAT
THEY WOULD EVER BE OUT OF A JOB,
SO IF A POSITION NEEDS TO BE
ELIMINATED, WE WORK TO FIND THAT
PERSON A NEW JOB AT SENTARA.
>> WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES,
SENTARA IS A GREAT OPTION FOR
STUDENTS WHO HANG IN THERE AND
GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
JENNIFER McFAR LAND JOINED THE
PROGRAM SPECIALIZING IN
CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY.
>> BEING OF THE WORLD NOW, IT'S
SO MUCH HARDER WITHOUT YOUR
EDUCATION.
AT LEAST GO OUT AND SPECIALIZE,
BECOME SOMETHING THAT SEPARATES
YOU APART FROM EVERYBODY ELSE,
BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU FIT IN A
FLD WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, YOUR
OPPORTUNITIES OF MOVING FORWARD
ARE JUST SO SLIM AND NOT GOING
TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND YOU'RE
GOING TO END UP GOING BACK LATER
IN LIFE TRYING TO FINISH WHAT
YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE WHEN YOU
WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
>> BOTH JENNIFER AND MICHAEL
FINISHED THE PROGRAM AND ARE
WORKING IN VASCULAR TECHNOLOGY
AT SENTARA HEALTHCARE.
>> WE'VE ONLY HAD TIME TO SHOW
YOU A FEW, BUT THERE ARE
HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS
HAMPTON ROADS WORKING EACH AND
EVERY DAY TO TURN THIS EDUCATION
CRISIS AROUND.
EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO UNDERSTAND
THAT THE SCHOOLS CAN'T DO IT
ALONE, AND THAT WHEN OUR
CHILDREN FAIL, WE FAIL AS A
COMMUNITY, AS A REGION, AND
ULTIMATELY AS A NATION.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF
THE SOLUTION, LOG ON TO OUR
WEBSITE AT AMERICAN
GRADUATE.WHRO.ORG.
THERE YOU CAN JOIN THE
INITIATIVE AND CONNECT WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
FOR AMERICAN GRADUATE, LET'S
MAKE IT HAPPEN, I'M LISA.
>>> THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF
AMERICAN GRADUATE.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
A PUBLIC MEDIA INITIATIVE MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR
PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
>> MAJOR SUPPORT COMES FROM
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY.
>> SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
HIGH DEMAND, HIGH REWARD JOBS
YOU WANT AT NORFOLK STATE
UNIVERSITY.
THE WORLD NEEDS PEOPLE WITH
DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, MATH, AND
HEALTHCARE.
NORFOLK STATE LEADS HAMPTON
ROADS WITH WORLD CLASS FACULTY
AND FACILITIES.
INTERESTED IN SOLVING COME
COMPLEX PROBLEMS, CREATING
REALLY BREAK THUS TO SHAPE THE
FUTURE?
OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR FUTURE.
FIND OUT NOR AT NSU.EDU.
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY,
ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE.
SUCCESS BEYOND MEASURE.
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