American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen Hits Denver for PBS Annual Meeting

On May 17, Hill Harper, Tony Plana, and Priscilla Diaz will join CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison at the PBS Annual Meeting in Denver for a public discussion on the nation’s dropout crisis as part of the public media initiative, American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen, made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Priscilla Star Diaz has come a long way.  The charmingly little girl of Gabriel Noble’s P-Star Rising (2009) is now a poised 17-year-old starring in her third season of The Electric Company.  The hip-hop sensation—who experienced her own struggle with literacy—frequently speaks about self-esteem, persistence, and the value of an education.  Diaz is one of several high-profile supporters of American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen who will join public media professionals from across the country at the PBS Annual Meeting in Denver next week.

Patricia Harrison, CEO of CPB

Hill Harper, the film, television and stage actor currently starring in CSI: NY, and notable actor Tony Plana of Ugly Betty fame, will appear with Diaz and CPB President & CEO Patricia Harrison at a special American Graduate breakfast meeting on Thursday morning.

Launched in 2011, American Graduate is public media’s initiative to help communities address the dropout crisis.  The project  includes television and radio specials, screenings and  Teacher Town Halls  with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, community partnerships, and, engaging curricula for students in an out of the  classroom, and includes new ITVS programming that focuses on the Latino community. High school dropout is an issue that has many faces, and affects people in myriad walks of life—and people across the country are taking action.
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Tags: american graduate, corporation for public broadcasting, hill harper, Patricia Harrison, PBS Annual Meeting, priscilla diaz, tony plana

PBS Annual Meeting Features Breakfast Panel on Women and Girls Lead

Women and Girls Lead officially launched at last week’s PBS Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

Watch the below panel discussion on the multi-year public media campaign moderated by Patricia Harrison and featuring: Geena Davis, Paula Kerger, Sheryl WuDunn, and Abigail Disney.

Tags: Abigail Disney, CPB, Geena Davis, ITVS, Patricia Harrison, paula kerger, PBS, PBS Annual Meeting, sheryl wudunn, women and girls lead

Women and Girls Lead Takes Off at PBS Annual Meeting

Women and Girls Lead, the multi-year public media campaign to amplify the voices of women and girls worldwide, officially lifted off Thursday. The campaign was launched during a breakfast hosted by ITVS and CPB during this week’s PBS Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis and CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison broke the champagne bottle across the proverbial bow with their stirring opening remarks. Thursday’s event was stacked with even more special guests, including a troop from Girl Scouts of the USA. Check out some video highlights from the event below and learn more about Women and Girls Lead.

Tags: CPB, Geena Davis, ITVS, Patricia Harrison, PBS Annual Meeting, women and girls lead, women's empowerment, women's leadership

CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison Discusses Public Media with Better.tv

Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), recently sat down with Better.tv to discuss the importance of public media in changing peoples’ lives and engaging communities.

Watch the clip below in which Harrison discusses how programs like FRONTLINE and Independent Lens are helping to inspire public television viewers and reaching a more diversified audience.

Tags: CPB, Frontline, Patricia Harrison