Watch American Graduate on September 22 and Help Local Students Stay on Track to Graduate

American Graduate

Only 75.5 percent of all high school students graduate, which means that one in four American students drops out before he/she finishes high school. That’s more than one million students per year nationwide. For African American and Hispanic students, the graduation rate is less than 65 percent. 

American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen is a Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and public media initiative to help local communities identify and implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis. From September 22-29th, PBS and WCVW PBS will broadcast programming that raises awareness about the issue and shares what is being done to combat the problem all over the country.

The initiative kicks off with American Graduate Day on Saturday, September 22 from 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on WCVW PBS. This day will be dedicated to raising awareness about the dropout crisis, with appearances by celebrity guests and compelling stories from support organizations and the students themselves regarding the dropout crisis.

American Graduate Day will be broadcast from the Lincoln Center in New York City, and will tell the story of Community Partners and how they provide support, advice, and intervention services to at-risk students, families, and schools. Each half hour will feature profiles of national and local organizations dedicated to keeping kids on track and in schools. Viewers will be invited to take an active role in their work, including volunteering, mentoring, tutoring, or providing other services or resources. 

Additionally PBS will cover the dropout crisis in other programs such as Frontline’s “DropOut Nation” on September 25 at 9:00 p.m., and PBS NewsHour will air 7 stories on the dropout crisis through the fall and winter. At all times, interested parties, can log on to americangraduate.com for information and radio broadcasts on the subject of reducing the American high school dropout rate. In addition a special one hour audio program, Left Behind, Dropping Out discusses some solutions that work.

How you can help. There are a number of organizations that need your help, whether with donations, volunteering, mentoring, tutoring or providing other support. The organizations listed below focus on supporting at-risk youth in our community and have a big need for volunteer and financial assistance. Please consider supporting one of the organizations below in the manner that makes sense for you.

Organizations and Resources Supporting At Risk Youth in Our Community

1. Communities in Schools* (contact: 358.1247)
2. Big Brothers and Big Sisters* (contact: 804.261.4940)
   What if every child had at least one role model? Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond & Tri Cities provides these role models through one-to-one mentoring relationships that match caring adults with children who can learn from and grow with them. Children in our program have higher aspirations, greater confidence and healthier relationships. They are better equipped to avoid risky behaviors and do better in school. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides ongoing supervision and relationship support for every Big, Little and family, as well as cultural and social activities which enrich lives. There are currently over 400 area boys and girls on the waiting list…waiting sometimes years for their very own Big Brother or Big Sister mentor. Be a part of something BIG and mentor a child with Big Brothers Big Sisters
3. Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond* (contact: Anne Burgess 804.359.5250 ext. 227 or aburgess@bgcmr.org)
4. HandsOn RVA Youth and Children Education: volunteer@handson.org

*Featured in American Graduate Day Program

For more information on American Graduate Day, check these resources:

• americangraduate.org
• americangraduateresources.org
• facebook.com/americangraduate
• prx.org/amgrad
• @amerigrad