"I WILL GRADUATE" Campaign
Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Entertainers 4 Education Alliance (E4EA) celebrated its second annual "I WILL GRADUATE DAY", a dropout prevention campaign that encourages students to graduate from high school, earn a college degree and become working professionals. Events included a panel discussion, lectures and live performances by recording artists.
E4EA's Executive Director Tonya Lewis moderated a panel that addressed citizenship, social responsibility, college-readiness and how to become "career-driven". Panelists included Sway Calloway, reporter and executive producer for MTV News. He stressed overcoming adversity in order to achieve goals " and said that education is a key to success.
The day-long event took place at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in Manhattan.
Kelly Jackson, President, Golden Shepherd Alliance, a brand marketing and publicity organization, said "I WILL GRADUATE DAY" is important because the dropout rate is steadily rising. Robyn Watson, Director of Communications, Time Warner Cable, said playing high school and college basketball was a vital to her personal academic achievement.
Hip-hop artists from the Harlem-based hip-hop group Dipset, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey, surprised teenagers with a live performance. Donnie Klang, MTV's Making the Band 4 winner, took the stage to serenade a student who was celebrating her birthday. Mr. Klang attended Hofstra University on Long Island for music management and business before becoming a singer and songwriter.
Founded in 2005, E4EA is an entertainment industry charity and non-profit organization that promotes higher learning and personal achievement among urban youth. E4EA uses athletes, musicians and high profile individuals to reach at-risk students.
E4EA also supports NYC public school Principals at their annual Principal's Soiree. School Leaders are recognized for outstanding achievement in their schools. The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators has been a major sponsor of this event since the event's inception in 2007.
For more information about E4EA, please visit http://www.e4ea.org/ and http://www.e4ea.org/Iwillgraduate/index.html.
