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CPB Awards $260,160 to WVIZ/PBS ideastream for American Graduate: Getting to Work Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calle Andrus, Communications Specialist
216.916.6434 | calle.andrus@ideastream.org

CPB Awards $260,160 to WVIZ/PBS ideastream for American Graduate: Getting to Work Initiative

CLEVELAND, Ohio (January 24, 2018) — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced a grant of $260,160 to WVIZ/PBS ideastream for the American Graduate: Getting to Work initiative to help advance education and career readiness locally. Of the 19 PBS stations receiving grants, Ohio was awarded a statewide collaborative grant. WVIZ/PBS ideastream will partner with WOSU in Columbus and CET in Cincinnati to assess workforce challenges and opportunities, and produce content focused on the essential skills needed for students and workers to succeed in the job markets of today and tomorrow.

The three stations will coordinate and collaborate to share resources, content, events, distribution networks and services for a deep impact statewide effort to address workforce development through broadcast, digital media and community engagement.

“We are honored to be a part of this important initiative,” said Linda J. Williams, Ph.D., Senior Director Community Engagement and Education at ideastream. “Together with our partners, ideastream will continue to strive to help increase successes of youth, young adults, returning veterans and adults in career transition in our communities. We are especially proud to be selected as the Ohio collaborative manager, leading activities across the state.”

The new grants represent the next phase of public media’s successful American Graduate initiative, which was launched in 2011 to address the nation’s dropout rate. During the past six years, public media stations across the country forged community connections and innovative partnerships to help improve student outcomes – substantially contributing to an increase in the national high school graduation rate to an all-time high of 84 percent.

“The American Graduate initiative attracted local business and community leader support and engagement by focusing on keeping young people on the path to success in school and life,” said Pat Harrison, CPB President and CEO. “All Americans want our young people to be prepared to fill jobs that currently are unfilled because of a skills gap.”

About ideastream
The mission of ideastream is to strengthen our communities. ideastream pursues this mission as a multiple media public service organization by providing distinctive, thought-provoking programs and services that enlighten, inspire, educate and entertain.

About American Graduate
American Graduate is public media’s long-term commitment to supporting community-based solutions to help young people succeed in school, career and life.Supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), more than 125 public television and radio stations have joined forces with over 1,700 partners to elevate the stories of youth and the supportive adults that help them succeed. Through American Graduate, public media, with its unique position as a trusted resource and important partner in local communities, provides a critical platform to shine a light on pathways to graduation and successful student outcomes. National and local reporting, on air and online is helping communities understand the challenges and community-driven solutions associated with education and future successes. Public forums, town halls and community conversations are activating discussions between community leaders, educators and more.

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television and related online services. For more information, visit  http://www.cpb.org, follow on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook and LinkedIn and subscribe for email updates.

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