What is American Graduate?
The WMHT American Graduate Project, funded by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is an initiative to raise awareness about the dropout crisis in our community by engaging a wide range of stakeholders in a dialogue and by mobilizing the community through a multimedia campaign to share resources, best practices and stories of challenge and success.
When students are asked if they will graduate from high school, about nine in 10 will answer 'yes.' However, statistics show about only seven in 10 students actually finish high school, and that statistic drops further for minority students and English Language Learners. Students have the will to graduate, but they do not always have the necessary support or resources.
How Can I Connect to the Conversation?
To connect to the WMHT American Graduate Project and the work being done in our community you can:
• Host or help facilitate a community conversation or a community cinema event. Contact us for more information.
• Join the conversation on the WMHT American Graduate Facebook page.
• Learn more about work being done by community partners and become a community partner.
• Include a link to the WMHT American Graduate Project on your web page.
• Stay up-to-date about the project by requesting to join the WMHT American
Graduate email distribution list.
• Connect to PBS American Graduate Initiative.
Where Can I Learn More?
The WMHT American Graduate Town Hall meeting, moderated by Elaine Houston, features conversation between a panel of esteemed local experts and a wide-range of community participants about the related issues and impact of the dropout crisis in our community, as well as needed and existing pathways and resources to support student success.
• View the Town Hall Meeting Broadcast
• View Related Data and Resources
• View Panelist Biographies
• View additional video footage from the Town Hall (coming soon)
• View expanded interviews from the Town Hall (coming soon)
• View Student Interviews to learn more about what students in the Capital Region have to say about the dropout crisis.
• View Partner Testimonials to hear what they have to say about being involved in the WMHT American Graduate Project.
Additional WMHT American Graduate Community Resources:
• Data Resources, Research and Articles
• Community Partner & Public Media Resources
• Stories of Success and Impact (coming soon)
• Local News Articles and Resources
American Graduate Partner Stations in New York State
• WSKG | Binghamton
• Thirteen|WNET | New York City
• WXXI | Rochester
• WCNY | Syracuse
How Can I Get Involved in the Project?
There are many ways to become involved in the WMHT American Graduate Project and the work being done in our community to address the dropout crisis:
Join the WMHT as a partner in the American Graduate Coalition
The coalition is comprised of a wide range of community partners assembled to share dialogue and to engage a wider community in supporting at-risk students. If you would like more information about the WMHT American Graduate Coalition, please e-mail us.
Share Your Personal Success Story or Submit a Student Peer-Conducted Interview
Do you have a story about overcoming adversity to find academic success? Is there someone who was there to support and guide you at a “transformational” moment in your education? If so, the WMHT American Graduate Project wants to include your story on our web page! We are also accepting submissions of video-taped student peer-conducted interviews, documenting authentic student voices expressing perspectives about the experiences and challenges faced by students as they work toward high school graduation. E-mail us us for details about how you can share your success story or student peer-conducted interview video.
Other Ways to Get Involved
For more information about how you can become involved with the WMHT American Graduate Project, please e-mail us.
