Power Poetry Begins in To Be Heard

Flagged as “one of the best documentaries of the year,” by The New York Times, To Be Heard is a look at a unique poetry class in the Bronx for at-risk youth where anything can be said or shared.  The film (airing on public television starting in January) focuses on three subjects — Pearl Quick, Anthony Pittman, and Karina Sanchez — weaving their deeply personal stories with their writing and performances. ITVS’s Kate Sullivan Green had the opportunity to talk with Pearl Quick about Quick’s experience of growing up in the Bronx and finding her voice through the Power Writers program. 

How did you find out about the Power Writers program?
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Tags: high school, ITVS, Poetry, to be heard

Watch American Graduate’s Too Important to Fail, Streaming now on PBS.org

The program, which aired on Tavis Smiley Reports, examines one of the most disturbing aspects of the education crisis facing America today — the increased dropout rate among Black teenage males. The broadcast is currently streaming on PBS.org a part of American Graduate, a public media initiative supported by CPB to help local communities across America find solutions to address the dropout crisis.

In this episode of Tavis Smiley Reports, Tavis travels across the country, speaking to education experts, as well as to the teenagers themselves about the challenges they face and how education can be redirected to address their needs. He profiles individuals who are making a difference in the lives of young Black males and looks at the schools that are best serving them.
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Tags: African American, american graduate, black, CPB, diploma, dropout, education, graduate, high school, male, PBS, tavis smiley, teenagers, The Wire

CPB Launches New Initiative to Fight American Dropout Rate

CPB, in partnership with America’s Promise Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, launched the American Graduate Tuesday in D.C. — a significant new initiative to combat the dropout epidemic in the U.S. Independent Lens host America Ferrera was on hand to discuss ways Public Media can play a meaningful role in education.

Tuesday’s program aimed to build on public broadcasting’s long-standing commitment to education by convening conversations and strengthening partnerships between public radio and television stations and local schools, businesses, and community organizations — all with the goal of helping students stay on course to graduate from high school.

In addition to America Ferrera, the event included actors Hill Harper and Aimee Garcia; NewsHour’s Ray Suarez; Michael Powell from Promise Alliance; Don Shalvey from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and CPB President & CEO Patricia Harrison.

Visit the American Graduate Facebook page to find more up to date information from the event.

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Tags: america ferrera, Bill and Melinda Gates, CPB, Dropuout, education, high school

New Lesson Plans Arrive for Pushing the Elephant

ITVS Community Classroom announces the launch of an exciting new resource for teachers, NGOs and youth serving organizations, based on Pushing the Elephant, which aired last week on Independent Lens.

This powerful family portrait is set against the wider drama of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

When civil war came to Rose Mapendo’s Congolese village, she was separated from her five-year-old daughter, Nangabire. Rose managed to escape with nine of her 10 children and was eventually resettled in Phoenix, AZ.

More than a decade later, mother and daughter are reunited in the U.S. where they must come to terms with the past and build a new future.

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Tags: classroom, college, congo, education, high school, lesson plans, teachers

Live Chat with Me Facing Life Filmmaker Dan Birman

Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story aired last night on Independent Lens and today, the filmmaker participates in a live chat with high-school students starting at 1PM PT.

This week, nearly 100 seniors at Impact Academy High School in Hayward, California screened the documentary Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story, which follows the case of Cyntoia Brown, who is serving a life sentence for a murder she committed at age of 16. The documentary, directed by Dan Birman, aired nationwide last night on Independent Lens.

At 1PM today, Dan Birman will field questions from the students in a live chat right here on Beyond the Box. Feel free to join the conversation today and discuss the film Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story.

Tags: high school, jail, justice system, juvenile, teachers

Recent Talkback About Independent Lens

Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, Independent Lens brings you documentaries, dramas, shorts and Web-exclusive projects made by independent thinkers. Check out some of the recent Talkback from viewers about films that aired in March.

The Eyes of Me

“I was studying and watching this for inspiration for a research paper the other night, and found it gave me more inspiration than I could have ever imagined! I cried a number of times. I thank everyone in this film for shining light on a subject I was completely ignorant to before.”
Posted by: Sabrina on March 6, 2010

“I was just casually watching the Independent Lens Program about blind teenagers in Texas. My casual watching turned to anger when I saw how a young boy (Isaac) was allowed to go blind because the medical community could not find a way to do an emergency repair of Isaac’s detached retina. In the big, rich state of Texas, wasn’t there one person or organization that could have prevented Isaac from going blind?”
Posted by: James Stokely on March 5, 2010

“I came home late from work last night and watched this episode while eating dinner in front of the TV. This in itself is not unusual, but the tears I shed as the birthday girl reflected on her birthdays past were. I am a grown man and have little understanding of teenage girls feelings but I couldn’t help reflecting on my own b-days and how lucky I was. My wish for Denise is that she comes to find her place in this world and realizes that she is a beautiful, smart, fun girl who will make many friends in her life and have many b-days full of joy. I will think of her every time I blow out my own candles and wish her the best. Great episode!”
Posted by: Sherman on March 4, 2010

View more Talkback and submit your own for The Eyes of Me >>

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Tags: blindness, disablity, education, high school, youth