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>> I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN
EDUCATION AND I FEEL WE NEED TO
EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
TEACHERS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
ATHLETES AND ENTERTAINERS.
THEY SHOULD BE PAID MORE AND
RESPECTED.
PEOPLE ARE MORE EDUCATED,
HEALTHIER, LESS CRIME, AND AN
OVERALL BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
I WAS ALSO BLESSED TO HAVE
WONDERFUL TEACHERS.
I STILL REMEMBER MY FIFTH GRADE
TEACHER WHO REALLY TOOK AN
INTEREST IN ME AND HELPED ME TO
JUST DEVELOP SUBJECTS I WAS
INTERESTED IN, NOT JUST THINGS
SHE WAS TEACHING.
AND MY LATIN TEACHER, WILL I
EVER USE THAT IN LIFE?
BUT I REMEMBER IT.
IT TAUGHT ME DISCIPLINE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE
WHO TELL ME IT WAS A WASTE OF
TIME AND MONEY FOR ME TO ATTEND
COLLEGE WHEN I KNEW WHAT I
REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS BE AN
ENTERTAINER.
THAT WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL.
YOU SEE THE MATH I STUDIED
HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND THE
VALUE OF THE NOTES I SING.
STUDYING ENGLISH HELPED ME WITH
MY PUBLIC SPEAKING AND BETTER
INTERPRET THE LYRICS.
THERE'S TRULY SO MANY REASONS
WHY EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.
ALL OF OUR CHILDREN DESERVE A
GOOD EDUCATION.
LET'S AIM FOR ALL OF OUR
STUDENTS TO BE AMERICAN
GRADUATES.
>> YOU ARE NOW LOOKING AT A LIVE
SHOT OF OUR CONTROL ROOM.
LISTEN TO THIS, A RECENT STUDY
BY STANFORD UNIVERSITY REVEALED
HIGH ACHIEVING LOW INCOME
STUDENTS WERE LESS LIKELY THAN
THEIR MORE AFFLUENT PEERS TO
EVEN APPLY TO SELECTED
UNIVERSITIES.
OVER THE NEXT HOUR WE'LL HEAR
STUDENTS STORIES ABOUT STRUGGLES
AND TRIUMPHS TOWARDS COLLEGE
GRADUATION RESULT TO A LARGER
CAREER AND ALSO MORE THAN THAT,
A BETTER LIFE.
AS A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT,
SHE IS FACING TOUGH ODDS.
FOR EVERY 100 LATINO STUDENTS,
ONLY 13 WILL GRADUATE FROM
COLLEGE.
FORTUNATELY SHE CONNECTED WITH
AN INNOVATIVE COLLEGE ACCESS
PROGRAM.
>> I GO BY ALLIE.
I LIVE IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, AND
I AM AN INCOMING FRESHMAN TO
ARMSTRONG UNIVERSITY.
THIS IS MY FIRST WEEK OF
COLLEGE.
I'M NERVOUS, BECAUSE I'M MEETING
MY NEW PROFESSORS TODAY AND I
REALLY HOPE THAT I'M TAKING
CHARGE OF WHAT I'M DOING AND
DOING THE RIGHT THING.
>> MELANIE RUNS LATINO OUTREACH
PROGRAMS AND FOUNDED THE PROGRAM
LAST YEAR.
>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART OF
THE YEAR, THE FIRST MEETINGS ARE
ALWAYS PUMPED BECAUSE WE GET TO
MEET NEW STUDENTS.
IT'S SUPER EXCITING.
>> AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL
DROPOUT HERSELF, SHE KNEW
FIRSTHAND THE OBSTACLES MANY
STUDENTS FACE, BUT IT WASN'T
UNTIL SHE BEGAN RECRUITING FOR
ARMSTRONG THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD
HOW PERVASIVE THESE CHALLENGES
WERE.
>> I LOOKED AT A POCKET OF
STUDENTS SITTING IN THE
BLEACHERS.
I QUICKLY FOUND OUT THESE
STUDENTS COULD NOT GO TO
COLLEGE, THEY HAD NO ACCESS.
ONCE MY EYES WERE OPEN TO THESE
ISSUES, I STARTED TO SEE THEM
MORE AND MORE IN EVERY COLLEGE
TOUR I WENT.
>> AFTER TEN YEARS OF SUPPORTING
LATINO STUDENTS ON ARMSTRONG'S
CAMPUS, MELANIE SAW A CHANCE TO
GROW THE POPULATION IN SAVANNAH
AREA COLLEGES BY HELPING HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH COLLEGE
READINESS AND GENERAL ADVISING.
>> COLLEGE PREP IS ABOUT GETTING
THEM TO THINK, YOU KNOW, AT 15
YEARS OLD I'M GOING TO COLLEGE,
THIS IS NOT AN OPTION ANYMORE,
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY GETTING TO
THE HEART OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO,
TO TRANSFORM GENERATIONS OF
LATINOS TO COME.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT
ACTUALLY.
>> WE NEED TO HAVE A MAP THAT
TELL YOU YOU ARE HERE.
THAT WOULD REALLY HELP.
>> HER CASE IS VERY COMMON AMONG
THE HISPANIC LATINO FAMILIES.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS
GOING TO GO OR PAY FOR COLLEGE.
I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
NOBODY TOLD ME, DO YOU HAVE A
PLAN, HAVE YOU APPLIED TO ANY
SCHOLARSHIPS.
>> WHAT SHOULD I APPLY FOR.
>> AND THEN I MET.
>> I PERSONALIZE THE PROGRAM.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE BEEN
THROUGH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
AYE BEEN ON PROBATION IN
COLLEGE, GRADUATED FROM THE
UNIVERSITIES, FACED THE SAME
THINGS THEY HAVE.
I BRING MY LETTER TO SAY I LIVED
IN COMPTON IN THE 1980s WHEN THE
BLOODS AND CRIPS WERE AT THEIR
HYPE.
IF I CAN DO IT OUT OF COMPTON,
I'M SURE YOU CAN DO IT HERE IN
SAVANNAH.
>> COMING TOGETHER, SEEMS MORE
RELAXED NOW, LIKE SHE'S WHERE
SHE WANTED TO BE.
THIS IS A STEPPING STONE TO HER
LAW DEGREE THAT SHE WANTS.
I KNOW WHEN I MET ALLIE, EVEN
THOUGH SHE WAS TAKING THE RIGHT
CLASSES, I REALIZED SHE HAD A
LOT OF MISINFORMATION.
SHE WASN'T SURE WHAT EXACTLY IT
TOOK.
I MADE IT MY POINT WITH ALLIE
AND THE OTHER STUDENTS TO TAKE
THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS
OF WHAT IT TAKES FROM
IDENTIFYING COLLEGES, APPLYING
FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IN NOVEMBER,
YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING UP WITH THE
APPLICATION PROCESS.
THE PROGRAM HELPS THEM.
>> STAY AWAKE, CAFFEINE.
COLLEGE ALGEBRA.
THIS IS MARY ALICE SIMPSON, MY
BEST FRIEND BOTH MY JUNIOR AND
SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I WANTED HER TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY I DIDN'T HAVE AS A
JUNIOR, THE EARLY ON HEALTH.
I DIDN'T GIVE HER A CHOICE.
>> IT PUT ME IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO SIGN UP
FOR THE S.A.T. AND A.C.T. AND
SCHOLARSHIPS.
>> NOW I CAN HELP HER WITH IT.
NOW THAT I'M IN COLLEGE, I CAN
HELP HER WITH HER ESSAYS.
>> MY SENIOR YEAR I HAD A
HORRIBLE BREAKUP AND TOOK OFF.
I LEFT AND WENT DOWN TO MY
MOM'S.
>> SOME OF THE STUDENTS POINTED
OUT TO ME, YOU KNOW THE GIRL
ALLIE IS NOT HERE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S NOT HERE?
SHE LEFT, HER BOYFRIEND AND HER
BROKE UP AND SHE LEFT TO
FLORIDA.
EVERYBODY ELSE KNEW I'M NOT
COMING BACK.
>> THE SECOND DAY I WAS GONE, I
WASN'T GONE 24 HOURS, HE TEXTED
ME, WHY ARE YOU NOT IN SCHOOL?
>> I TEXTED HER, YOU NEED TO GET
BACK AND GRADUATE.
YOU NEED TO FINISH WHAT YOU
STARTED HERE.
>> HE'S THE FIRST ONE TO SAY YOU
HAVE TO COME BACK AND FINISH.
HE JUST REACHED OUT AND MADE
SURE I KNEW I WAS LOVED.
>> HE GENUINELY CARES ABOUT HIS
STUDENTS.
HE LOOKS AT THEM AS INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
HE'S A FRIEND YOU CAN TRUST AND
CONFIDE IN.
>> WHAT WE ARE DOING IS
FACILITATING HER TRANSITION
INTO -- FROM A POTENTIAL DROPOUT
LIKE MANY OTHER LATINOS TO A
SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL.
I HOPE SHE COMES BACK IN FIVE
YEARS AND SAYS LOOK WHAT I DID.
>> TO SEE HER BLOSSOM AND GROW
SO MUCH FROM THE SERVICES SHE
RECEIVED TO THE POINT THAT NOW,
YOU KNOW, SHE'S GRADUATED, SHE
HAS FINANCIAL AID AND SHE'S HERE
AT ARMSTRONG IS JUST AMAZING.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I FEEL I'M NOT A LONER.
>> IT REALLY BRINGS IT HOME THAT
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS IMPORTANT
AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE
REPLICATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO
THAT WE CAN GRADUATE MORE
HISPANIC LATINO STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
EVERYTHING.
>> COLLEGE IS NOT ONLY GOING TO
TRANSFORM HER LIFE, IT'S GOING
TO TRANSFORM ALL OF OURS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I'M HERE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF A
NATIONAL NONPROFIT WORKING TO
ACCELERATE STUDENTS SUCCESS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE PERCENTAGE FINISHING COLLEGE
IS STILL NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO
BE.
WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT
BRIDGING THAT GAP?
>> IT'S HUMAN CAPITAL, THE MOST
PRECIOUS RESOURCE FOR THIS
COUNTRY.
THOSE STUDENTS NEED TO EXCEED
FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILY,
THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE NEED TO
INVEST IN THEM.
THIS IS PARKING LOT OF WHAT'S
GOING TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY
THRIVING.
>> WHAT'S THE ROLE IN THE
NATIONAL CONVERSATION OF THIS?
>> WE ARE IN A POSITION TO PUT
OUT THE CALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OPTIMISTIC,
WHO LOOK AT THE LATINO COMMUNITY
AS AN ASSET FOR THIS COUNTRY AND
BELIEVE THERE ARE TACTICS,
STRATEGIES, WHICH CAN BE
REPLICATED, AS THEY WERE IN
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
>> HOW DO WE SCALE THESE TACTICS
AND MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST
AFFECTING INDIVIDUALS OR
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES, BUT WE
CAN REALLY BRING THIS
NATIONWIDE?
>> WE HAVE TO DO BOTH.
THE IDEA OF HIGH TOUCH WAS
THROUGHOUT THAT INTERVIEW.
AT THE SAME TIME,
ADMINISTRATORS, POLICY MAKERS,
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES,
FOUNDATIONS, KNOW HOW TO CREATE
INFORMATION STRUCTURES AND WE
PLAY OUR ROLE IN MAKING SURE
THAT INFORMATION'S AVAILABLE ON
OUR WEBSITE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS
TO LEARN HOW TO DO THIS.
>> WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT'S
NOT ABOUT THE CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL
SUCCEEDING, BUT EVERYONE MUST BE
A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SO IF A PERSON'S WATCHING, A
POLICYMAKER, PARENT,
PHILANTHROPIST, WHAT SHOULD THEY
DO?
>> THEY INFORM THEMSELVES.
THAT QUESTION IS THE CRITICAL
ONE.
STEP ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
THIS WHOLE SHOW HAS BEEN FULL OF
VOLUNTEER EFFORTS.
IF IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO SPEND MONEY, IF
YOU WANT TO SPEND TIME AND YOU
HAVE THE MEANS TO GO TO SCALE.
WE HAVE OVER 100 PROGRAMS.
>> THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR
OUR NATION'S FUTURE.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> IT'S AN HONOR AND PLEASURE.
>> EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION IS
WORKING TO CHANGE LANDSCAPE OF
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR LATINO
STUDENTS.
THEY DO THIS BY LINKING
RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE
AND BY PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL
POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONAL
PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT LATINO
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
VISIT THEIR ONLINE RESOURCE TO
FIND OUT MORE AND REPLICATE A
PROGRAM IN YOUR AREA.
TEXT, CALL, LOG ON TO
AMERICANGRADUATE.ORG TO CONNECT
WITH THEM AND SUPPORT THE
IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO.
USE THAT AND BECOME AN AMERICAN
GRADUATE CHAMPION NOW.
WE HAVE HEARD SOME AMAZING
TESTIMONIALS TODAY.
HERE'S ANOTHER FROM DEE
SCHNEIDER OF TWISTED SISTER.
YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE
AMERICAN GRADUATE WEBSITE.
>> I'M DEE SCHNEIDER FROM
TWISTED SISTER AND I'M HAPPY TO
BE HERE FOR AMERICAN GRADUATE
DAY.
I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A
TEACHER THAT CHANGED MY LIFE.
MRS. DORIS CARILLO.
WHEN I WAS IN FIFTH GRADE WE
MOVED TO ANOTHER TOWN AND I
DIDN'T FIT IN THE SCHOOL.
I STRUGGLED WITH THE WORK,
STRUGGLED MAKING FRIENDS, AND I
REALLY WAS KIND OF LOST.
AND ONE DAY THEY WERE HAVING
GLEE CLUB AUDITIONS, SHE WAS
RUNNING THOSE, AND THE WAY IT
WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
EVERYBODY GOT TO AUDITION FOR
THE SOLO.
AND I STEPPED UP TO AUDITION FOR
THE SOLO AND SHE STOPPED IN THE
MIDDLE OF MY TRYOUT AND SAID,
YOU CAN SING LIKE A BIRD.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYBODY
TOLD ME I HAD A VOICE.
NOT ONLY DID SHE GIVE ME THE
SOLO, BUT THAT SOLO MADE ME WANT
TO BE A SINGER AND PERFORMER AND
GET OUT THERE IN FRONT OF
PEOPLE.
WHENEVER YOU ARE, I OWE YOU.
>> TEAM OF STUDENTS WERE SENT TO
COLLEGE TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH
OTHER.
THE POSSE FOUNDATION IDENTIFIES,
RECRUITS, AND TRAINS HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS WITH EXTRAORDINARY
ACADEMIC AND LEADERSHIP
POTENTIAL.
LET'S CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR
WORK.
>> GENERALLY IN THE BIG INNER
CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE
ARTISTS, SCIENTISTS, HISTORIANS,
THE LINGUIST, THOSE CHILDREN ALL
GET LOST IN THE CROWD.
WHEN WE EVALUATE ON THE BASIS OF
THEIR TEST SCORES, WE MISSED A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THAT
PERSON.
>> WE HAVE A NONMERITORIOUS
METHOD OF DEFINING MERIT IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE HAVE TESTS THAT RELATE VERY,
VERY STRONGLY TO FAMILY INCOME
AND EDUCATION LEVELS.
>> WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S OTHER
PREDICTORS THAT ARE VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT, AND SOMETIMES EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT THAN A TEST SCORE
JUST AS S.A.T. SCORES OVER A
LONG PERIOD OF TIME HAVE BEEN A
GREAT PREDICTOR OF SUCCESS,
POSSE, LIKEWISE, CAN SHOW YOU
THEIR STUDENTS AND SHOW YOU
THEIR SUCCESS IN EXACTLY THE
SAME WAY.
>> THE AMERICAN DREAM DOESN'T
MEAN ANYTHING IF PEOPLE CAN BE
SCREENED OUT OF OPPORTUNITIES IN
LIFE.
>> I WAS RAISED IN SOUTH
CENTRAL, SEVEN CHILDREN, I'M THE
FIRST TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL
AND FIRST TO GO TO COLLEGE, LET
ALONE GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.
>> THIS IS WHERE I WENT TO HIGH
SCHOOL, CRIPS AND BLOODS
PATROLLING THE HALLWAYS MORE
THAN THE DEANS WOULD.
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD GO
TO UNIVERSITY, NEVER.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
>> POSSE HAS DEVELOPED A
STRATEGY FOR IDENTIFYING
UNBELIEVABLY TALENTED YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO CAN SUCCEED IN
COLLEGE.
IT PUTS YOUNG PEOPLE INTO A
DYNAMIC SETTING, WHERE LOOKING
FOR COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND
LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE AND
ABILITY TO WORK WELL IN A TEAM
AND WHAT WE'RE FINDING ARE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE A
CAMPUS BY STORM.
>> WATCHING HER THERE, ONE OF
THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT POSSE IS
90% OF THE KIDS THROUGH THIS
ORGANIZATION GRADUATE FROM
COLLEGE.
WE'RE JOINED BY TWO OF THE GREAT
SCHOLARS IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COUNTRY.
LET ME START WITH YOU.
YOU WERE NOMINATED TO BE A POSSE
SCHOLAR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
SKILLS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW
HAVE GONE ON TO FIND SUCCESS AT
COLLEGE.
WHY DOES POSSE -- WHY DOES POSSE
SEEK OUT STUDENTS LIKE YOU AND
WHAT DO YOU THINK DIFFERENTIATED
AND DISTINGUISHED YOU FROM OTHER
STUDENTS?
>> I THINK THAT POSSE LOOKS FOR
STUDENTS WITH LEADERSHIP
CAPABILITIES THAT WOULD
TRADITIONALLY BE OVERLOOKED BY
THE COLLEGE PROCESS.
POSSE RECOGNIZED THAT IN
ADDITION TO HAVING GOOD GRADES,
A GREAT ACADEMIC STANDING, YOU
ALSO NEED TO LOOK FOR STUDENTS
THAT HAVE POTENTIAL AND THAT
WITH CORRECT GUIDANCE AND
TRAINING, THEY CAN DEVELOP
LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO GO ON TO
COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND BE GREAT
LEADERS AND IMPACT THE COLLEGE
CAMPUS.
>> AND YOU'VE FOUND THAT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
YOU'RE INVOLVED IN?
>> I AM THE CAPTAIN OF THE THIRD
DEGREE SKETCH TEAM AND THE
STUDENT ADVISER TO THE LATIN
AMERICAN LATINO AND CARIBBEAN
STUDIES.
DEXTER AARON IN MY POSSE IS THE
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MUSLIM
STUDENTS ASSOCIATION AT
DICKINSON.
VICTOR HOGAN --
>> WHERE ARE THEY FROM?
YOU'RE FROM NEW YORK.
>> I AM FROM NEW YORK.
I AM POSSE TEN AND ALL THE
PEOPLE I'M MENTIONING ARE
MEMBERS OF THE DICKINSON POSSE
TEN.
VICTOR HOGAN IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN
STUDIES CLUB, SHANICE GRANT IS
AN EDUCATOR AT A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION IN CARLISLE,
PENNSYLVANIA.
I THINK THIS JUST DEMONSTRATES
HOW INVOLVED POSSE SCHOLARS
BECOME.
>> THEY ARE NO SHRINKING VIOLETS
WHEN THEY GET TO CAMPUS.
>> NO, NO.
BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THERE ARE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF LEADERS.
YES, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO
ARE MORE INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THEN
THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE STILL LEADERS.
THEY JUST ARE ROLE MODELS IN THE
WAY THAT THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES
AT THE CAMPUSES AND HOW THEY
SUPPORT OTHER POSSE SCHOLARS IN
THE COMMUNITIES.
>> JONATHAN, YOU ARE FROM
BOSTON, SERVED TWO TOURS OF DUTY
IN IRAQ, AWARDED THE PURPLE
HEART.
GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL WAS A
TRANSITION.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
YOU AS A VETERAN, AS A PATRIOT
RETURNING TO CIVILIAN LIFE ON
COLLEGE?
>> BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS NOT
BEING PART OF A TEAM ANYMORE.
IT'S BAD DEPLOYING.
GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.
IT'S WORSE WHEN YOUR FRIENDS
DEPLOY AND YOU DON'T.
YOU FEEL KIND OF WORTHLESS, TO
BE HONEST.
YOU'RE NOT DOING WHAT ALL
YOUR --
>> YOU LEFT FROM A VERY
STRUCTURED, ORGANIZED
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO
DEFENDING AND PROTECTING US.
YOU WERE A SERGEANT.
WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND FROM BEING A
PART OF THE FIRST VETERANS
POSSE?
HOW HAS BEING AFFILIATED WITH A
GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAD
SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, HOW'S THAT
HELPED YOU?
>> IT'S IMMENSELY HELPFUL.
I CAN IMMEDIATELY RELATE TO
THEM.
THEIR SUPPORT STRUCTURE, I CAN
LET MY GUARD DOWN, I CAN RELAX.
YOU'RE PART OF A TEAM AGAIN.
EVERYONE'S GOING THROUGH THEIR
OWN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY ARE
GOING THROUGH.
YOU KNOW, VETERANS COME WITH A
LOT MORE PROBLEMS THAN YOUR
STANDARD -- JUST A LOT MORE
LIFE, FAMILIES, CHILDREN, LIFE
EXPERIENCES.
IT'S IMMENSELY HELPFUL TO
UNWIND, BE ABLE TO GO TO YOUR
GROUP OF VETS AND RELATE.
YOU HAD ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS
BEFORE AND ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS
NOW.
>> YOU'RE PURSUING YOUR DEGREE,
BUT GIVE US 30 SECONDS, WHERE
DID YOU SERVE IN IRAQ?
I WAS ONLY IN COUNTRY FOR ABOUT
TWO MONTHS BEFORE I WAS
MEDEVACED OUT SEVEN YEARS AGO
NEXT WEEK.
>> LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, WHAT
HAS POSSE GIVEN YOU THAT YOU
DON'T THINK YOU WOULD HAVE
RECEIVED ELSEWHERE, AND I WANT
YOU TO BE AN ADVOCATE ON BEHALF
OF ALL THE POSSE MEMBERS.
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ATTAIN A COLLEGE
EDUCATION.
I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO AFFORD A COLLEGE
EDUCATION.
I THINK POSSE HAS GIVEN ME MY
FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME, WHICH HAS
REALLY BECOME MY POSSE.
THEY'VE BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE
AND HELPFUL DURING MY TIME AT
DICKINSON.
THEY'VE GIVEN ME THE RESOURCES
AND TOOLS I NEEDED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AT DICKINSON.
>> YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BE.
YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BE.
WE'RE SHORT ON TIME, WE'LL BE
RIGHT BACK ON AMERICAN GRADUATE
DAY.
>> PUTTING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
IN REAL-LIFE WORK ENVIRONMENTS
CAN GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE AND
EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO EXCEED
IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND.
THAT DOESN'T HURT IF THE
EXPERIENCE IS IN THE EXCITING
WORLD OF LIVE THEATER.
PUTTING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
THROUGH A UNIQUE THREE-YEAR
USHER PROGRAM, WE'RE DELIGHTED
TO HAVE WITH US IN THE STUDIO
TODAY FORMER NEW VICTORY USHERS
JANELLE AND JENNIFER, AS WELL AS
BILL IRWIN, LONG-TIME
COLLABORATOR WITH THE THEATER.
BILL, TELL US ABOUT THE NEW
VICTORY PROGRAM.
>> WELL, THE NEW VICTORY THEATER
IS THE FLAGSHIP CHILDRENS
THEATER IN NEW YORK, AND THE
USHER CORPS PROGRAM WE'RE VERY
PROUD OF, BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE
BETWEEN 16 AND 22 APPLY, MANY OF
THEM IN HIGH SCHOOL OR RIGHT OUT
OF HIGH SCHOOL.
TO JOIN THE PROGRAM TO BECOME
USHERS AT THE NEW VICTORY
THEATER, BUT THAT'S THE LEAST OF
WHAT THEY DO.
THEY ENTER A TRAINING PROGRAM,
WHICH THESE GUYS WILL TELL YOU,
IS DESIGNED TO PREPARE PEOPLE
FOR LIFE BEYOND THE AGES OF 16
AND 22.
>> TERRELL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL
US?
>> WELL, THE USHER CORPS PROGRAM
IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM.
YOU COME IN PRETTY MUCH THE FACE
OF THE NEW VICTORY THEATER,
BECAUSE AS SOON AS A PATRON
COMES IN TO BE SEATED, THEY ARE
GREETED BY AN USHER, WHICH IS MY
ROLE.
NOT ONLY IS IT A PROGRAM FOR
USHERING, IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM, AS WELL.
WE GO THROUGH THESE SEMINARS AND
JOB DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TO
KIND OF GIVE US THE SKILLS AND
SOFT SKILLS WE NEED TO COMPETE
IN THE BIGGER WORLD OUT THERE.
>> AND FROM THE USHER PROGRAM,
YOU WERE PURSUING COLLEGE, YOU
WENT TO PACE, HOW DID THE USHER
PROGRAM HELP YOU?
>> THEY WERE DEFINITELY SOME OF
MY CHEERLEADERS.
MY FIRST YEAR AT COLLEGE WAS MY
THIRD YEAR AT THE NEW VICTORY
THEATER.
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE DO I STAY
HERE, DO I GO, IT WAS HARD TO
CHOOSE, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING I
WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT I
WAS LIKE IF I CAN ONLY DO THREE
SHIFTS AT THE VICK, I'LL DO IT,
BECAUSE I LOVE IT THAT MUCH.
>> YOU WERE TERRELL'S MENTOR?
>> YES, I WAS.
>> SHE'S AWESOME.
AS YOU CAN SEE.
BECAUSE I CAME IN WITH A FOCUS
OF FINANCE AND AT FIRST I DIDN'T
THINK I WOULD FIT BECAUSE I
LOVED FINANCE AND WHAT CAN ART
DO FOR ME IN FINANCE, BUT THEN I
REALLY REALIZED THAT I LIKE ART,
AS WELL.
I LIKE BROADWAY SHOWS AND I LIKE
CHILDREN.
AND BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THOSE SEMINARS AND
WORKSHOPS, IT GAVE ME THE SKILLS
I NEEDED TO KIND OF GO OUT THERE
IN A PROFESSIONAL WORLD IN
FINANCE.
FROM THAT PROGRAM, I WAS ABLE TO
EARN AN INTERNSHIP AT BANK OF
NEW YORK.
>> THE MENTORING IS IMPORTANT,
VOLUNTEERING IS IMPORTANT.
HOW DID YOU HELP, TERRELL?
>> MY WHOLE MENTORSHIP BEGAN AS
A FORMAL, BUT IT DEFINITELY
DEVELOPED INTO THIS ACTUALLY
FRIENDSHIP BEYOND THE
GRADUATION, BEYOND ALL OF THAT.
AND SOME THINGS THAT I WAS
SUPPOSED TO TEACH HIM WAS
CONCESSIONS AND MERCHANDISE,
LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE AND
HANDLE THAT VERY WELL.
>> YOU'VE GONE ON TO GREAT
SUCCESS, AS WELL.
>> I'M LUCKY TO HAVE A JOB OUT
OF COLLEGE THAT I ACTUALLY ENJOY
AND LOVE, BECAUSE I CAN RELATE
SO MUCH TO THE MOVIE THEATER AS
OPENING UP THE BUILDING FOR A
SHOW IS THE EXACT WAY THAT YOU
WOULD OPEN UP A STORE IN THE
MORNING.
MAKING SURE EVERYONE'S PREPARED
FOR THE GUESTS, PREPARED FOR
ANYTHING.
THEY HAVE THEIR EQUIPMENT, ALL
THE CASHIERS HAVE THEIR CASH IN
THE REGISTERS.
NEW VICTORY HELPED ME RELATE TO
TARGETS.
>> OTHER KIDS OUT THERE WHO
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING
SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHAT WOULD
YOU SAY TO THEM?
>> I WOULD SAY ALWAYS HAVE AN
OPEN MIND.
GO OUT THERE AND KIND OF YOU
DON'T HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO, BUT HAVE THAT IDEA AND
TALK ABOUT IT, TALK TO EVERYONE
THAT YOU KNOW, WHO YOU'VE BEEN
INTRODUCED TO, KIND OF TALK
ABOUT WHAT IT IS YOU LIKE TO DO.
IT'S NECESSARY SO A PERSON CAN
GET TO KNOW YOU AND WHAT YOU
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
>> GREAT ADVICE, GREAT ADVICE.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL THE PEOPLE OUT
THERE WHO ARE WATCHING, WHAT CAN
THEY DO TO HELP?
>> PEOPLE WATCHING TODAY, HERE'S
WHAT THEY SHOULD KNOW,
APPLICANTS ARE NEEDED, YOUNG
PEOPLE UP TO THE CHALLENGE TO
APPLY TO THE NEW VICTORY USHERS
CORPS.
PARENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD
THINK ABOUT COMING TO THE NEW
VICTORY.
OFTEN IT'S THE FIRST TASTE OF
THEATER PEOPLE GET IN THE CITY
OF NEW YORK.
WE ALSO NEED IN OUR CULTURE A
DEDICATION TO HIRING YOUNG
PEOPLE.
IT'S A TOUGH ECONOMY AND
EMPLOYERS OFTEN THINK SOMETIMES,
WELL, I THINK I'LL TAKE SOMEBODY
IN THE MID 20s.
THESE GUYS HAVE EXPERIENCE
BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THE
NEW VICTORY USHER CORPS.
ANYBODY WATCHING CAN GO TO YOUR
WEBSITE AND BE LINKED TO THE NEW
VICTORY WEBSITE AND SEE HOW WE
OERPS AND IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT
THE N.E.A. AND THE NEW YORK
COUNCIL ON THE ARTS AND THE
CITY'S ART PROGRAMS, THOSE
FUNNEL IN SOME SUPPORT TO THE
NEW VICTORY THEATER.
THESE ARE WAYS PEOPLE WATCHING
CAN BE PART OF WHAT THESE TWO
GUYS HAVE ATTAINED AND DONE.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR
STORIES.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
STUDENTS LIKE THESE GUYS NEED
YOU TO GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE
LIVES OF SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE.
CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON
YOUR SCREEN OR VISIT
AMERICANGRADUATE.ORG TO CONNECT
WITH THE NEW VICTORY THEATER
TODAY.
DON'T WAIT TO BECOME AN AMERICAN
>> CHANNEL 13 IN NEW YORK CITY,
WHERE IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK ON
OUR SECOND NATIONAL AMERICAN
GRADUATE DAY, AND I'M SO HAPPY
TO BE WITH YOU.
THIS IS, AS I SAID LAST YEAR,
PUBLIC MEDIA AT ITS ABSOLUTE
BEST.
I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED TODAY'S
PROGRAMMING.
IN TODAY'S ECONOMY, EVERYONE
KNOWS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COLLEGE
DEGREE TO SUCCEED, BUT IT SEEMS
IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER.
TUITIONS KEEP GOING UP.
THE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
APPLICATIONS ARE SO FRUSTRATING
AND KEEP STUDENTS AWAY.
THE GOAL OF THE NATIONAL COLLEGE
ACCESS NETWORK IS BUILD,
STRENGTHEN, AND EMPOWER
COMMUNITIES SO ALL STUDENTS CAN
ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL
DREAMS.
THEY WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO
PROMOTE COLLEGE ACCESS.
ONE OF THESE EXAMPLES IS THE
TENNESSEE ACHIEVES PROGRAM.
THEY WORK TO HELP STUDENTS GAIN
ACCESS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AFTER STARTING AND NOT COUNTING
2008, THE PROGRAM NOW OPERATES
IN 27 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.
EARLIER THIS MONTH WE SAW THE
IMPACT TENNESSEE ACHIEVES HAS
HAD ON ONE STUDENT'S LIFE.
>> CALEB HAS JUST STARTED
CLASSES IN EAST TENNESSEE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET THE WOOD
PUT IN THE BED.
GET IT RESTORED AND LACKING GOOD
SO I CAN SAY THIS IS WHAT ME AND
MY DAD DID.
>> THE SCHOOL IS 20 MINUTES AWAY
FROM HOME AND IF HE CAN GET HIS
LATE GRANDFATHER'S TRUCK
RUNNING, HE'LL NO LONGER HAVE TO
BEG FOR RIDES TO CAMPUS.
>> IT'S A TRIAL AND ERROR
PROCESS.
LEARNING AS I GO.
>> TRIAL AND ERROR CAN PRETTY
MUCH SUM UP A GOOD PORTION OF
CALEB'S HIGH SCHOOL DAYS.
>> MY FIRST TWO YEARS OF HIGH
SCHOOL DEFINITELY WAS KIND OF A
BLUR.
MY FRESHMAN YEAR I USED TO CLIMB
UNDER HER DESK AND HIDE FOR THE
FIRST 15 MINUTES OF CLASS, THEN
SHE'D ASK WHERE I WAS AND I'D
CRAWL OUT.
>> YEAH.
SOMETIMES I WOULD GO AROUND TO
MY DESK TO GET SOMETHING AND
HE'D JUMP OUT.
>> I DID THAT.
>> CALEB HAS COME A LONG WAY.
>> CALEB'S SHIFT IN ATTITUDE
STARTED WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT
TENNESSEE ACHIEVES A MENTORING
AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT
WORKS TO HELP STUDENTS LIKE HIM
GAIN ACCESS TO POST SECONDARY
EDUCATION.
>> MY SENIOR YEAR I KIND OF
REALIZED I HAD TO CRACK DOWN AND
DO WHAT'S BEST FOR ME.
>> THE MAIN ATTRACTION IS ITS
LAST DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP PROMISE,
WHICH ENSURES FULL COMMUNITY
TUITION FUNDING FOR EVERY
STUDENT THAT COMPLETES THE
PROGRAM.
>> THE MONEY BRINGS PEOPLE TO
THE PROGRAM BUT WHAT FEEDS THEM
THROUGH THE DOORS IS THAT
MENTORING.
>> HIS FATHER JOINED RIGHT IN
AND ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND
DIDN'T LET HURDLES AND OBSTACLES
GET IN THE WAY.
>> 60% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FIRST
GENERATION.
WE REALIZE NOBODY HAD BEEN
THROUGH THIS JOURNEY BEFORE.
>> ME BEING FIRST GENERATION, I
DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO REALLY
PREPARE ME FOR WHAT WAS GOING TO
GO ON.
>> OUR STUDENTS ARE ARE VERY
INTIMIDATED AND SOMETIMES
TERRIFIED BY THE PROCESS AND
SIMPLY WANT SOMEONE TO HELP
THEM.
>> I REMEMBER HIM INDICATING I'M
REALLY NOT SURE WHAT I NEED TO
DO.
THE FRIENDLY GUIDANCE IS
DEFINITELY A GREAT THING FOR ME.
>> A BIG STEP IN THE PROCESS IS
COMPLETING THE EVER CHALLENGING
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL
STUDENT AID.
>> I REMEMBER WORKING ON FASFA
AND A LADY HELPED ME GET THROUGH
IT.
AFTER THAT WAS DONE, IT WAS A
HUGE RELIEF.
AFTER THAT I KIND OF FELT LIKE
THAT WAS THE FIRST LITTLE STEP
INTO THE DOORWAY.
I STARTED GETTING E-MAILS FROM
TENNESSEE ACHIEVES, STARTED
GETTING REMINDERS FROM TENNESSEE
ACHIEVES.
FROM THERE, BAM, BAM, BAM.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M GOING TO
COLLEGE AND IT WAS AWESOME.
>> WE TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN
APART AND HAD IT IN A BUCKET,
YOU KNOW, I LOST EVERY PIECE OF
IT I'M PRETTY SURE.
NOW WE HAVE TO BUY A NEW
STEERING COLUMN.
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ME NOT
KNOWING WHAT I'M DOING.
>> MISTAKES WILL TEACH HIM A
LOT.
>> DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND MY
DAD, HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE
A WELDER AT 5 YEARS OLD.
THE FUNDAMENTALS IS WHAT HE
TRIES TO TEACH ME.
HE LETS ME LEARN THE REST BY
MYSELF.
ALL MY LIFE HE'S TRIED TO
INSTILL IF YOU WANT SOMETHING
DONE, THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS
YOURSELF.
>> I THINK HIS DAD NEEDS TO BE
COMMENDED FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN
THIS.
THERE HAVE BEEN PARENTS THAT
SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PURSUE ANY
FURTHER.
CALEB'S DAD REALIZED THERE WAS
THIS OPPORTUNITY AND JUMPED IN.
PARENTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE
IN THIS PROCESS.
>> I'VE ALWAYS LOVED MUSIC AND
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD WITH
WORDS.
IF I'M HAVING A BAD DAY, I CAN
WRITE MUSIC AND GO BACK AND READ
IT, MAN, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL VIEW
OF MY OWN LIFE, LIKE TO WRITE IT
DOWN AND READ IT LATER.
>> HE HAS AN INTEREST IN AREAS
THAT ALMOST REQUIRE SOME
EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL TO
REALLY ADVANCE AND TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT.
>> THINKING THE NEXT SEMESTER OR
TWO I'M GOING TO TRY TO TAKE A
SOUND PRODUCTION CLASS AND VIDEO
PRODUCTION CLASS AND SEE WHAT
COMES FROM THAT.
>> BECAUSE HE'S BEEN SUPPORTED
AND HELPED TO GET INTO COLLEGE,
MAYBE HE'LL FIND OUT THAT THOSE
DREAMS ARE CLOSER TO HIS
REALITY.
HIS LIFE HASN'T BEEN DETERMINED
FOR HIM.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES, AND THAT
WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE HOW HE
TAKES THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND
WHERE HE HEADS IN THE FUTURE.
>> IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO DO
SOMETHING WHEN SOMEBODY IS
TELLING YOU TO DO IT, WHEN
SOMEBODY IS ON TOP OF YOU.
TENNESSEE ACHIEVES PUSHED ME OUT
OF THE MASSES.
HEY, MAN, WE'RE HERE, WE GOT
YOU.
THAT'S WHAT TENNESSEE ACHIEVES
WAS TO ME.
ANY TIME THERE'S A MEETING FOR
ANY KIND OF ORGANIZATION THAT'S
GOING TO HELP YOU, PUT
EVERYTHING ELSE ON HOLD AND GO
TO IT.
THAT 30 OR 40 MINUTES, IT CAN
CHANGE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
>> THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS LIKE
TENNESSEE ACHIEVES AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND YOU CAN VISIT THE
WEBSITE.
TEXT, CALL, AND LOG ON TO
AMERICANGRADUATE.ORG TO CONNECT
WITH THIS PROGRAM AND ALL THE
IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO.
BECOME AN AMERICAN GRADUATE
CHAMPION BY STAYING AT HOME AND
LOGGING ON.
NOW IMAGINE HERE IN HIGH SCHOOL,
OF COURSE, EVERYONE FEELS
INVISIBLE.
YOU FEEL A LITTLE INVISIBLE, BUT
IMAGINE YOU FEEL INVISIBLE
BECAUSE YOU'RE POOR, YOU'RE TOLD
YOU'RE A MINORITY, OR BECAUSE
YOU'RE UNDOCUMENTED AND ALL OF
YOUR PROBLEMS SEEM INVISIBLE TO
MAINSTREAM AMERICANS, BUT
IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS IF SUDDENLY
A COLLEGE-BOUND PROGRAM ARRIVES
TO MAKE YOU FEEL VISIBLE.
THAT'S WHAT COLLEGE FOR EVERY
STUDENT DOES, IT MAKES THESE
KIDS FEEL VISIBLE.
IT WORKS WITH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE
STUDENTS A CLEAR PATH THROUGH
COLLEGE SUCCESS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF
THEIR WORK.
>> WHAT'S PARTICULARLY TROUBLING
IS THE FACT THAT THE GAP BETWEEN
LOW-INCOME STUDENTS AND THEIR
MIDDLE AND HIGH-INCOME PEERS HAS
WIDENED EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S IN TERMS OF COLLEGE
GRADUATING.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS HELPING
LOW-INCOME STUDENTS CHANGE THEIR
LIFE TRAJECTORY, AND WHEN YOU DO
THAT, YOU CHANGE NOT ONLY THEIR
LIFE, BUT THE LIFE OF THEIR
FAMILY AND THE TRAJECTORY OF
THEIR FAMILY.
>> IN ESSENCE WHAT THEY DID FOR
ME VERY CLEARLY WAS PROVIDE THAT
BRIDGE, YOU KNOW, I'M THE FIRST
ONE TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE IN
MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY, SO I DIDN'T
HAVE A REALLY GOOD BRIDGE TO
UNDERSTAND THE S.A.T. SCORES,
THE FINANCIAL AID.
I WANT WHY THAT.
THEY DID THAT VERY, VERY WELL.
WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU, IT'S OUR
LAST SEGMENT ON AMERICAN
GRADUATE DAY.
I LOVE THIS NOTION OF COLLEGE
GOING CULTURE THAT BASICALLY
THIS ORGANIZATION TRIES TO
CREATE IN THE SCHOOL.
WHEN THE SCHOOL WHERE YOU WERE
AT, WAS THERE A COLLEGE GOING
CULTURE OF CGC AT YOUR SCHOOL
ALREADY?
>> MY FRESHMAN YEAR THERE WAS A
PROGRAM SIMILAR BUT I THINK THEY
REALLY DID OPEN THAT WORLD OF
COLLEGE, OF CULTURE OF COLLEGE,
INTO OUR SCHOOL BY CREATING
DIFFERENT TEAMS NAMED AFTER
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FROM
ALL THE STATES, SO THAT REALLY
BROUGHT IN THAT CULTURE OF
COLLEGE.
WE STARTED GOING TO DIFFERENT
TRIPS, TAKING DIFFERENT TRIPS TO
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,
REALLY MAKING SURE THAT EVEN
FROM OUR FRESHMAN YEAR WE HAD
THAT IN OUR MINDS THAT IN FOUR
YEARS WE WERE GOING TO GRADUATE
AND GO TOWARDS COLLEGE.
>> DID YOU AS A YOUNG LATINO
GROWING UP, WAS THERE A COLLEGE
CULTURE?
>> KIND OF AND NO.
AT HOME WE HAD IT IN THE AIR I
WAS GOING TO COLLEGE, BUT WE
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT STEPS TO TAKE.
>> YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN EXPERIENCE
OF THAT.
IT WASN'T LIKE YOUR PARENTS OR
GRANDPARENTS HAD DONE THAT AND
THAT MADE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO
FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO.
>> EXACTLY.
MY MOTHER HAD NOT GONE TO
COLLEGE, THEN FINDING OUT I WAS
UNDOCUMENTED ALSO BROUGHT
ANOTHER TROUBLE AND CHALLENGE TO
THAT, BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING TO
GET ANY FINANCIAL AID, MANY
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES WERE
NOT GOING TO BE OPEN TO ME.
THAT MADE EVERYTHING MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT.
>> I GUESS PART OF WHAT HAPPENED
HERE AND THIS IS WHY WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
VISIBLE VERSUS INVISIBLE ISSUES,
WHEN MELISSA GETS INVOLVED IN
THE PROGRAM, JEREMY, SHE'S ABLE
TO SAY THIS IS WHO I AM, THESE
ARE THE ISSUES I FACE, I COME
FROM A FAMILY WHERE THERE HASN'T
BEEN A TRADITIONAL COLLEGE
GOING, I'M UNDOCUMENTED BUT A
HIGH ACHIEVER.
WHEN YOU FIRST MET HER?
>> I STILL REMEMBER FRESHMAN
YEAR AS A HIGH ENERGY ACTIVELY
ENGAGED STUDENT, HAD NO IDEA
ABOUT HER UNDOCUMENTED STATUS OR
THE ISSUES SHE WOULD LATER ON
FACE.
SO I IMMEDIATELY TARGETED HER TO
BE A MEMBER OF OUR PROGRAM AND
LATER TO BE A TEAM LEADER,
STUDENT LEADER, IN OUR PROGRAM.
SHE REALLY SET THE TONE FOR WHAT
IT WAS TO BE A STUDENT LEADER.
IT WAS AROUND HER JUNIOR YEAR
THAT SHE DISCOVERED SHE WAS
UNDOCUMENTED AND REALIZED THE
CHALLENGES SHE WOULD FACE, THE
LACK OF FINANCIAL AID AND
SUPPORT, AND WE SPENT COUNTLESS
HOURS CONTACTING SCHOOLS, TRYING
TO SEE WHICH SCHOOLS WOULD
SUPPORT US.
>> AT THAT MOMENT, SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, FINDING OUT BECAUSE
YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE
UNDOCUMENTED.
SUDDENLY YOU'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL
AND FIND OUT YOU'RE
UNDOCUMENTED.
THAT COULD BE THE THING YOU SAY
I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT, BUT
PEOPLE LIKE MELISSA GET INSPIRED
LIKE PEOPLE LIKE YOU, ANGEL.
YOU'RE UNDOCUMENTED FROM NEW
YORK CITY, SO WHAT ABOUT YOU,
THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THAT
CLICKED?
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T CLICK AT
FIRST.
YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT
COULD HAVE BECOME A STATISTIC.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WELL, THROUGH THE CORE
PRACTICES, MENTORING, SERVICE,
ENDED UP VISITING MIDDLEBURY
COLLEGE.
MOST OF THE LEARNING I ENGAGED
IN WAS THROUGH HIP HOP CULTURE.
WHEN I GOT TO THE COLLEGE, WOW,
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS, THIS IS
HOW ADMISSIONS MAKES DECISIONS,
THIS IS FINANCIAL AID, AND I
CAME BACK FROM THAT TRIP KIND OF
ENERGIZED TO PUT THE BEST FOOT
FORWARD AND APPLY.
I ENGAGED IN A COMMUNITY SERVICE
PROJECT, THE MENTORING, I GOT A
MENTOR THAT SUPPORTED ME
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, SO IT
INSPIRED ME TO APPLY TO SCHOOL
BUT I HAD TO BE REALISTIC.
I WAS AN AVERAGE STUDENT, I
STRUGGLED WITH MY ACADEMICS.
THERE WAS A POINT WHERE I WAS
DISAPPOINTING MY PARENTS.
I SAID THAT'S IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE MEDIOCRE
ANYMORE.
>> THAT'S AMAZING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT MELISSA AND YOU
SEE -- BECAUSE I ASKED MELISSA,
OKAY, YOU'RE IN COLLEGE NOW,
WHAT'S NEXT, I'M GOING TO
GRADUATE SCHOOL, OF COURSE.
WHAT GOES ON FOR YOU, ANGEL,
WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH
MELISSA?
TELL ME ABOUT THE INSPIRATION?
>> I GET CHILLS, BECAUSE I SIT
DOWN WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND
LOOK AT HOW DO WE DEVELOP THE
MOST HIGH IMPACT PLAN FOR THE
YEAR AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE
DECIDE ARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT
INSPIRE THE MELISSAS.
SO FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE
PERSPECTIVE, I GET CHILLS WHEN I
SEE MELISSA RISE UP AND BE ONE
OF THE MOST POWERFUL LEADERS I
KNOW.
FOR ME, IT GIVES ME CHILLS AND
REFLECTS THIS ORGANIZATION HAS A
STRONG APPROACH TO COLLEGE
ACCESS.
>> MELISSA, LET'S TALK FOR A
MOMENT ABOUT THE PARTICULAR
ISSUE OF BEING UNDOCUMENTED,
BECAUSE IT IS UNRESOLVED IN OUR
COUNTRY.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOING
TO BE IMMIGRATION REFORM.
IT'S INCREDIBLY DIVISIVE AND
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT SAYS WE
DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR STATUS IS.
>> THERE'S SUPPORT OUT THERE.
I'M NOT ALONE.
WHEN WE STARTED AT THE NATIONAL
CONFERENCES, THERE WAS A
WORKSHOP DEDICATED TO
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS OF FINDING
WAYS OF HOW CAN ADMINISTRATORS
AND STAFF START MAKING PATHWAYS
FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS TO GO
TO COLLEGE, TO MAKE IT
ACCESSIBLE, CREATE COLLEGES AND
PROGRAMS THAT ALLOWED US TO
BELIEVE, TO MAKE SURE, OKAY, I
HAVE THIS ISSUE, IT'S SYSTEMIC
ISSUE, BUT HOW CAN I AT LEAST
MAKE IT TO COLLEGE TO TRY TO
FIGHT AGAINST THESE BURDENS
AGAINST ME.
IN MY SCHOOL WE STARTED CREATING
THOSE SPACES AND IT LED TO THEM
CREATING THOSE SPACES EVEN MORE.
IT WAS REALLY A GREAT THING TO
LEARN I WAS RETING OTHER
STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE KNOW
THEY WERE NOT ALONE.
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT THE
IMPORTANCE OF SHARING OUR
STORIES AND LETTING OTHERS KNOW
IT AND CONNECTING, I THINK ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND
CRUCIAL THINGS THAT ALLOW ME TO
COME OUT WAS THE RELATIONSHIPS
THAT WERE BEING BUILT BECAUSE OF
THEM.
>> YOU ACTUALLY CHOSE TO BECOME
A MENTOR IN THIS PROGRAM.
THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE
PROBABLY VERY INSPIRED BY WHAT
THEY'RE SEEING WITHMELISSA.
WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE SAYING CAN
I MENTOR, I DON'T KNOW, I'VE
NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
>> TALKING ABOUT ADULTS OR
STUDENTS, THEY CAN ALL BE
MENTORS.
HONESTLY, BEING A MENTOR CHANGES
YOUR LIFE MORE THAN IT CHANGES
PEOPLE YOU'RE MENTORING, IN MY
OPINION.
IN MELISSA'S CASE, SHE
COMPLETELY CHANGED MY VIEW OF
IMMIGRATION REFORM IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> WOW, YOU HAD ISSUES AND AFTER
MEETING MELISSA?
>> I HAD IGNORANCE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES
WERE.
AND WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT HER
SITUATION, IT WAS ALMOST HEART
BREAKING FOR ME TO REALIZE ONE
OF THE HARDEST WORKING STUDENTS
I KNOW MIGHT HAVE NO OUTLET.
WE ENDED UP DOING A PROJECT AND
WE WERE DOING AN I BELIEVE VIDEO
AND MELISSA CAME OUT TO
EVERYBODY AND PUT IT OUT THERE
AND THAT WAS SO INSPIRING TO ME.
IT ALLOWED OUR SCHOOL TO BE MORE
OPEN AND HONEST.
SINCE I'VE MET HER, I'VE MET A
LOT MORE STUDENTS THAT COME TO
ME AND LET ME KNOW, I'M JEREMY,
I'M UNDOCUMENTED, WHAT CAN WE
DO?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF
YOUR GREAT WORK AND BEING WITH
US AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SHARING AND MAKING TIME IN YOUR
DAY TO BE WITH US.
YOU CAN BECOME A MENTOR IN A
SCHOOL, THEY WORK DIRECTLY WITH
STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO
THEIR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH
SCHOOL.
WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS,
COMMUNITIES, AND BUSINESSMEN
TORS.
YOU CAN TEXT CHAMPION.
YOU CAN BECOME AN AMERICAN
GRADUATE CHAMPION.
SO THIS BRINGS US TO THE CLOSE.
THIS IS THE NATIONAL PORTION OF
OUR BROADCAST.
THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO
COME, SO DON'T GO AWAY, BECAUSE
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE MADE
THIS BROADCAST EFFORT POSSIBLE.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR OF ALL OF US
TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND
THE INITIATIVE.
THE ONLY HOME FOR SOMETHING LIKE
THIS, OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID IS
PUBLIC TELEVISION.
ONLY PUBLIC TELEVISION AND
PUBLIC MEDIA WOULD PROMOTE THE
AIR TIME, FUNDING, AND ELBOW
GREASE NEEDED TO GET SOMETHING
LIKE THIS DONE.
ONLY A FEW MORE MINUTES ON OUR
SHOW, BUT THE AMERICAN GRADUATE
PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
PUBLIC MEDIA, COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS, AND THROUGH YOU
AND ONLINE.
DO COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
ONE LAST GOOD-BYE FROM OUTSIDE
OUR STUDIOS AND GOOD NIGHT.
>> I'VE SPENT THE DAY SHARING SO
MANY INSPIRING STORIES AND I'D
LIKE TO END TONIGHT WITH ONE
LAST TWEET.
I GREW UP POOR, I WORKED HARD
FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, I GOT A FULL
RIDE AND I GRADUATED.
THEN I FINISHED GRAD SCHOOL WITH
A 4.0 AND I THINK THAT THIS
TWEET TRULY DEMONSTRATES WHAT SO
MANY OF THE AMAZING
ORGANIZATIONS WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED
TODAY HAVE DONE AND ARE
CONTINUING TO DO.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE ON
TWITTER FOR YOUR RESPONSES.
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SHARE THEM
TODAY.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I TRULY
ENJOYED INTERACTING WITH THE
HOSTS AND GUESTS AND FINDING OUT
THEIR PERSONAL STORIES AND HOW
HARD THEY CONTINUE TO WORK,
AGAIN HIGHLIGHTING THE AMAZING
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I KNOW OUR SHOW IS COMING TO
AN END, BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU
ALL THAT IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING
OF ALL THAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
SO REMEMBER, CONTINUE TO VISIT
US ON AMERICANGRADUATEDAY.ORG.
FIND LOTS OF INFORMATION ON THE
ORGANIZATIONS WE HIGHLIGHTED.
TRULY INSPIRING STORIES, GREAT
STUDENTS WHO TOOK TIME TODAY,
ESPECIALLY ON THEIR SATURDAY, TO
SHARE THOSE STORIES WITH US.
AND IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW HAS
TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR
LIVES.
I KNOW IT'S MADE A DIFFERENCE IN
LIVES OF FOLKS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN WATCHING
THIS AND YOUR SUPPORT, ANY WAY
YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
MATTERS.
MATTERS IN A BIG WAY.
AND WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO WALK
AWAY FEELING THIS CRISIS IS TOO
BIG FOR ONE PERSON.
IT'S NOT.
SO MANY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS
AND IF YOU CAN DO NIGHT A SMALL
AMOUNT OF TIME, THAT MAKES A
VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ALL
OF US ON AMERICAN GRADUATE DAY,
THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.
♪
>> HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, PART
OF A BOLD EXPERIMENT TAKING
PLACE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JOINING ME
ARE REGINA, PRESIDENT OF
KINGSBORO COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
CONNIE HAMILTON, PRINCIPAL OF
KINGSBORO SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND
TRISTAN, WHO JUST GRADUATED WITH
THE VERY FIRST CLASS FROM THERE.
WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM.
YOU WERE PART OF THE TEAM THAT
BROUGHT THIS TOGETHER, MADE THIS
INITIATIVE A SUCCESSFUL PILOT.
HOW DOES THIS WORK, TELL US?
>> IT STARTED OFF AS A PILOT
PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE GATES
FOUNDATION AND THE IDEA WAS TO
START STUDENTS OFF AT THE SIXTH
GRADE AND KEEP THEM UNTIL THEY
GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
WITH THE THOUGHT THAT BY THE
TIME THEY GRADUATED, THEY WOULD
HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF COLLEGE
CREDITS AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO
ACHIEVE AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
SO I SELECTED SEVERAL FACULTY
MEMBERS WHO I THOUGHT WERE
TALENTED, SMART, ENERGETIC, AND
WE WORKED WITH CONNIE AND THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DESIGN A
CURRICULUM THAT WOULD GIVE
STUDENTS BOTH A HIGH SCHOOL
DIPLOMA AND ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS WE
HAD 40 STUDENTS THAT GRADUATED
WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND
ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE FROM
COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
WE ARE THRILLED.
>> WHAT A GREAT FEELING.
WHY IS THIS PARTNERSHIP A GREAT
IDEA?
>> BECAUSE IT STARTS STUDENTS IN
THE SIXTH GRADE, GIVING THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK HARD,
GET INTO HIGH SCHOOL, AND BEGIN
IMMEDIATELY ONCE THEY ARE IN
HIGH SCHOOL TO TAKE BOTH HIGH
SCHOOL-LEVEL COURSES, AS WELL AS
COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSES.
IT'S REALLY GETTING STUDENTS AT
A CRITICAL POINT IN THEIR
CAREER, THE SIXTH GRADE.
IF YOU START TOO LATE, THEY ARE
NOT READY FOR COLLEGE, THEY ARE
NOT READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS A WAY TO REALLY START
SOMEONE EARLY, ENSURE THAT THEY
ARE READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND
THAT THEY HAVE THE SKILLS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR
THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
COLLEGE.
IT ALSO BRINGS TOGETHER A LOCAL
SCHOOL, LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH
A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
IT BRINGS THE STUDENTS ON TO THE
COLLEGE CAMPUS AND IMMEDIATELY
ONCE THEY STEP FOOT ON THE
CAMPUS, IT SAYS TO THEM QUITE
CLEARLY, YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU
CAN BE A COLLEGE GRADUATE AS
EARLY AS THE SIXTH GRADE AND
REENFORCES IT FOR EVERY OTHER
GRADE AFTER THAT.
>> CONNIE, YOU HAD WRITTEN THE
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AND STARTING
WITH SIXTH GRADE WAS KEY.
WHY IS THAT?
>> THERE ARE ALREADY SO MANY
STRUGGLES THAT YOU'RE DEALING
WITH, ESPECIALLY IF STUDENTS
COME INTO HIGH SCHOOL IN NINTH
GRADE DEFICIENT IN READING OR
MATH, SO MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE -- WE START WHERE
CHILDREN ARE 11 AND RAISE THEIR
LITERACY TO SUCH AN EXTENT, TO
SUCH A LEVEL WHERE BY THE TIME
THEY GET TO NINTH GRADE, THEY
CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN THEIR FIRST
COLLEGE COURSE.
>> WHAT KIND OF STUDENTS DO YOU
TARGET?
>> THE PROPOSAL WAS WRITTEN WITH
THE IDEA THAT IT WOULD BE FOR
UNDERREPRESENTED YOUTH.
AND MOST OF OUR STUDENTS, BIG
PERCENTAGE OF THEM, WILL BE THE
FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATES OF THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR ROCK
STAR HERE.
YOU'VE BEEN THERE FROM THE
BEGINNING, RIGHT, SO DESCRIBE
WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE
WHEN YOU FIRST JOINED.
>> EXCITING.
THEY GAVE US A LOT OF STUFF TO
DO.
WE HAD ENRICHMENT CLUSTERS, HAD
EXPERIENCE WITH DIFFERENT ARTS
AND THINGS TO DO AROUND THE
CAMPUS.
THE CAMPUS ITSELF, AS LITTLE
KIDS LOOKING AT OTHER PEOPLE GO
TO COLLEGE AND THEN SAYING, WOW,
I'M ON THE CAMPUS WITH OTHER
COLLEGE KIDS, GIVES YOU A GOOD
FEELING.
YOU GET TO KNOW YOU'RE A STEP
AHEAD OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU
GRADUATE.
ALSO THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, AS
WELL.
I FIGURED I WAS GOING TO HAVE
TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE AHEAD, I
THOUGHT ABOUT MY MOM PAYING FOR
MY TUITION, THOUGHT THAT WOULD
BE A GOOD THING, HAVE MY TWO
YEARS DONE AND NOT HAVE HER PAY
FOR FOUR YEARS.
>> WERE YOU EVER INTIMIDATED BY
ANY OF IT AT FIRST?
>> IT DIDN'T SEEM INTIMIDATING.
THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT
WAS GOING TO BE -- THEY TOLD US
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK,
BUT NOT IT WAS GOING TO BE
POSSIBLE.
>> HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
>> FEELS GREAT, BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT ONE OF THE PHILOSOPHIES
THAT WE HAVE AT THE SCHOOL IS
THAT IT WILL BE RIGOROUS AND IT
WILL BE DIFFICULT, BUT IT IS
ATTAINABLE.
>>> PART OF AMERICAN GRADUATE
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN, A PUBLIC
MEDIA INITIATIVE TO HELP
COMMUNITIES IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS
TO THE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT
CRISIS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED
BY THE FORD FOUNDATION, WORKING
WITH VISIONARIES ON THE FRONT