If you think it’s hopeless boosting the graduation rate or making
sure disengaged, academically struggling kids living in poverty achieve and
become productive citizens, talk to Bill Strickland. The philanthropist, author
and MacArthur “Genius” grant awardee was one of those kids. He says it not only
can happen, it is happening. He sees it in the five cities where his arts and
technology centers operate. And he sees it happening here when such a center
opens next month.
Strickland was in Charlotte
Monday as the Arts & Science Council prepared to launch the innovative free
out-of-school program for students in grades 9-12 in Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools. Already 90 students at 17 different schools have expressed interest.
The program will focus on digital photography and digital media art. It is a
collaborative public/private partnership involving CMS, the county and other
partners and participants. Mecklenburg
County is investing
$350,000 this fiscal year through its Community Services Grant Program and the
ASC is raising money from private donors. Students from West Charlotte High, a
Project L.I.F.T. school will have spots in the program. Judges in the juvenile
court system also saw the program’s potential, and some clients will
participate.
The ASC has been working for six years to launch this effort. The
program is modeled on Strickland’s work across the country through the
Manchester Bidwell Corporation’s (Strickland is CEO) National Center
for Arts & Technology. The program uses the arts – photography, pottery,
etc. – and partnerships with local industries to get kids motivated and provide
skills they can use. It’s that kind of work that earned Strickland his
prestigious “genius” grant in 1996. Strickland who preaches the virtues of
environment and motivated, committed adults in changing the lives of kids jokes
that he got the grant for “figuring out the cure for cancer of the spirit.” It’s
“flowers,” he said. “A beautiful environment, superior facility and motivated
faculty” are key ingredients in saving the lives of “emotionally damaged kids,”
he said, and that’s what most of the kids who need these programs are.
“Don’t give up on poor kids. They might end up being your
commencement speaker,” he said. Strickland should know. That’s what he did.
“The only thing wrong with poor people is they don’t have money,”
he said. “That is a curable condition.”
Strickland said people have to change the conversation about
these kids and use innovative learning techniques to reach them. That’s what’s
happening in the five cities – Grand Rapids , Cleveland , New Haven , San Francisco and Cincinnati
– where these arts and technology centers are operating. The programs have
waiting lists and have a more than 85 percent placement rate in jobs while in
the program. An average of 96 percent graduated from high school, and 89
percent moved on to higher education.
Posted by Fannie Flono
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