American Graduate

CET recently launched “American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen,” a national public media initiative aimed at helping Cincinnati and other communities across America address the high school dropout crisis. CET is one of more than 60 public media and television stations involved in this Corporation for Public Broadcasting funded project.

Every year, 1 million kids drop out of high school. In 2010, 39,200 Ohio students failed to graduate, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education.

“Millions of students around the country, including many right here in Cincinnati, start out with great hope for the future.  Yet, somewhere along the way, they give up and make the decision to drop out,” said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB.  “Through the American Graduate initiative, public media stations – locally owned and operated – are bringing together parents, educators, and business and community leaders to restore students’ hope and encourage them to stay on a path to high school graduation, and a more successful future.”

In Cincinnati, the focus of “American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen” is on mentoring and early learning. CET and “American Graduate” project partners Cincinnati Public Schools, Strive Partnership, United Way 2-1-1, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Mentoring Works and 91.7 WVXU have developed a blend of media and community engagement efforts designed to raise public awareness and offer solutions to improve Cincinnati graduation rates.

As part of this project, 91.7 WVXU and CET each presented 30-minute programs about mentoring and the positive impacts of being involved in a young person's life.   To listen to WVXU's "Impact Cincinnati,"  click here. To view CET's “Focus,” click here .

CET and WVXU also are broadcasting public service announcements about mentoring and “American Graduate” and will host a one-hour TV special in the fall of 2012.

For more about “American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen,” visit www.cincy-americangraduate.org.

To read CET’s press release, visit http://www.cetconnect.org/pressroom/cet-kicks-american-graduate-lets-mak....