2012 Show Me Campaign Fellowship

March 13, 2012

Attention college students who are working this summer to improve our world...

The Show Me Campaign wants to support you!

Show Me Campaign Fellowship 2012

The Show Me Campaign Fellowship Program, launched in 2009, encourages young people who are dedicated to helping improve the world. The Fellowship provides $3000 stipends for college students who have unpaid internships during the summer of 2012 in the following areas:

  • International development, specifically eradicating global poverty
  • Improving education in the United States

John Legend, Grammy award-winning musician and founder of the Show Me Campaign, provides the inspiration for the Fellowship program.

John believes that a commitment to social justice means turning down some of the noise and clutter of our daily lives and stopping to think about the way others live. He believes that developing a sense of empathy leads to caring and that caring leads to action.

Show Me Campaign Fellows are leaders committed to social justice. They are persons who witness injustice and act on it. They want to improve the world and inspire others to join them.

The Show Me Campaign Fellows program is now accepting applications for the Summer 2012 program. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2012.

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed their junior year of college at an accredited college or university and be entering their senior year of college in the fall of 2012.

Applicants must have a predetermined unpaid internship with a registered 501(c)3 organization.

Fellows will develop and submit a personal profile and a host organization profile that will be posted on the Show Me Campaign Fellows blog (http://showmefellows.tumblr.com/). Responsibilities include submitting 3 written or video entries over the course of the summer highlighting the community in which you are working, your host organization’s mission and goals,and demonstrable measures of the progress and impact being achieved. Fellows are also asked to share information that will help others become more informed of issues related to the mission of the Show Me Campaign.

Fellows will receive the $3,000 stipend after their internship is completed and if their profiles and blogs were maintained throughout the summer.

APPLY TODAY! Click here to download an application.

Please contact fellowship@showmecampaign.org with any questions.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Musician John Legend joins forces with the IRC to spotlight needs of children and youth in crisis zones

November 9, 2011

Grammy Award winning vocalist, songwriter and musician John Legend is teaming up with the International Rescue Committee as an IRC Voice – joining other prominent young artists who use their voices to call attention to the humanitarian needs of refugees and others affected by war and disaster.

Legend will be working with the IRC to raise awareness about the impact of violence and natural disasters on children and youth and to garner support for IRC programs that help children recover, provide care and protection and improve access to education.

“I believe that educating and empowering children brings lasting change, which is what the International Rescue Committee does in crisis zones around the world,” says Legend. “There’s no better organization than the IRC in terms of giving help and hope to vulnerable refugee children.”

Legend got his first taste of the assistance IRC provides refugee children in New York City, one of 22 cities where the IRC resettles refugees given sanctuary in the United States. He visited a local program that helps newly arrived refugee youth adjust to their new community and prepare to start school. Next year, he’ll be traveling with the IRC to West Africa, where the IRC has extensive programs that train teachers and help children enroll and stay in school.

Legend, a prolific recording artist and longtime social activist, was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2009. He has won nine Grammy Awards, including two for Wake Up!, a compilation of R & B music with themes of awareness and social engagement, released last year with the band The Roots.

In 2007, he launched the Show Me Campaign, a project that promotes education to combat poverty. It’s one of numerous initiatives that he’s involved with that aims to make a difference in the lives of others.

“John Legend’s humanitarian achievements are fast catching up to his extraordinary musical accomplishments,” said George Rupp, the IRC’s president. “We are delighted that John is joining our team as an IRC Voice to spotlight the critical needs of uprooted children and youth.”

Other IRC Voices include actress Rashida Jones from NBC's “Parks & Recreation” and Disney’s upcoming film “The Muppets,” Latin singer and actor Jencarlos Canela from Telemundo’s “Mi Corazon Insiste,” and actress Sarah Wayne Callies, who stars in the AMC TV series, “The Walking Dead."

Samsung Launches Second Annual "Solve for Tomorrow" Contest In Partnership with John Legend's Show Me Campaign

October 26, 2011

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., September 19, 2011 – Global technology leader Samsung today invited teachers across the United States to participate in the second annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow video competition as part of Samsung’s Hope for Children philanthropic initiative. The winning teachers and students will receive products, software and programming from Samsung, Microsoft, the Adobe Foundation and DIRECTV for their schools, a total retail prize value of over $1 million.

Education, especially in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), is the driving force behind future sustainable innovation and the creation of an environmentally aware society. As a company committed to raising enthusiasm for these subjects and addressing the technology gap in classrooms, Samsung invites 6th-12th grade teachers and their students to produce creative videos that explore the challenge: “Show how STEM can help the environment in your community.”

“Over 1,100 schools from across the country responded to last year’s contest challenge and sought ways to improve their environment using math and science. Samsung is thrilled to continue building upon that success,” said David Steel, EVP of Corporate Strategy, Samsung North America. “It is our goal to raise awareness and interest in STEM while providing teachers and students with the resources they need for success.”

Nine-time Grammy winner and philanthropist John Legend also indicated his continued involvement in the competition. “I had the pleasure of witnessing first-hand how Solve for Tomorrow stimulated nationwide student interest in STEM, and I look forward to working with them again this year,” said Legend. “Samsung makes a difference in the education and lives of children, which is a goal of mine and my organization, The Show Me Campaign.”

Starting today through October 31, teachers can submit a short application for a chance to participate in this year’s video contest. Twenty-five selected classrooms will become finalists and receive a Samsung camcorder and laptop, along with Adobe® Premiere® Elements and Photoshop® Elements software to create videos that answer the challenge. To learn more about the contest or submit an application, visit: samsung.com/solvefortomorrow

“My class looked at the impact hydroelectric dams are having on salmon fisheries in the Columbia River, and how clean energy could replace hydroelectric energy in our local environment,” said Mike Lampert, physics teacher at West Salem High School, which won the Grand Prize in 2011. “The project ignited a new interest in science among my students and winning the contest has allowed us to further expand STEM programs in our school.”

Since its inception in 2004, Samsung, through its Hope for Children initiative, and its partners have donated more than $30 million in technology and other prizes to over 400 U.S. schools. Samsung is proud to continue its partnerships with Microsoft, the Adobe Foundation and DIRECTV, who share a common passion for enhancing the quality of education.

“Many people see Microsoft simply as a technology company, but we also invest a tremendous amount in education as we believe every child has a right to a quality educational experience,” said Sig Behrens, General Manager of US Education for Microsoft Corp. “Over the past six years, we’ve had an incredible opportunity to partner with Samsung’s Hope for Children program to make a difference in our children’s education and to our communities by providing the latest Microsoft software to the winning school. The current and future prosperity of our country is dependent on a competitive workforce and we need to make sure students are equipped with the technology tools they need to gain 21st century skills to find jobs. ”

Samsung is also partnering with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization that advances lifelong environmental learning. Through its programming, NEEF raises awareness of the importance of environmental education, improving educational opportunities and connecting community resources. NEEF is a leading authority on environmental education and it will be working with Samsung to create a measurable impact on children’s ability to utilize STEM to solve practical environmental problems.

“NEEF is committed to giving students the tools they need to solve problems in their communities and generate lasting positive change,” said Diane Wood, President of the National Environmental Education Foundation. “Fostering an interest in STEM education by building on the passion of students for the environment is a win-win; students find solutions for issues in their communities while becoming interested in STEM subjects. We’re proud to continue our partnership with Samsung on this innovative program.”

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung’s North American operations including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, the Samsung organization is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #19 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand “100 Best Global Brands,” and named as one of Fast Company’s “50 Most Innovative Companies of 2010.” For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on www.Facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.

About Samsung Hope for Children
Samsung is dedicated to creating products that inspire passion and enable people to live Smarter Lives. Samsung Hope for Children represents the company’s philanthropic commitment in the U.S. to help improve children’s health, education and sustainability. Over the past 10 years, Samsung Electronics America and its retail and business partners have helped more than 400 schools, community-based foundations, and charities throughout the U.S. raise awareness of and funding for their causes. For more information please visit: www.samsung.com/hope.

About The Show Me Campaign
Created by Grammy award-winning artist John Legend, the Show Me Campaign is a nonprofit organization that fights poverty using proven solutions that give people the opportunity to survive, thrive, and succeed. Believing that equal access to quality education is the civil rights issue of our time, the Show Me Campaign promotes education reform in the United States. For more information, please visit: www.showmecampaign.org.

Show Me Fellows Blog

July 13, 2011

Follow the Show Me Fellows blog (http://showmefellows.tumblr.com/) to find out what our fellows have been up to and get ideas for how you can get involved in improving our world!

2011 Show Me Campaign Fellows

July 13, 2011

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2011 Show Me Campaign Fellowship: Antoinette Brou, Hae Jin Kang, Iman Taylor, Jasmine Nesi, and Nicole Theobald!

Each fellow will complete a summer internship in the area of international development (specifically, eradicating global poverty) or improving the U.S. education system. This years fellows will be interning with Millenium Campus Network, Teach for America, Communities in Schools, MotorCity Urban Summer Enrichment (MUSE), and the Uganda Village Project.

Learn more about the fellows and follow their summer experiences at the Show Me Fellows Blog (http://showmefellows.tumblr.com/).

Grammy Award Winning Artist John Legend to Salute DC Public Schools' Highest Performing Teachers

June 10, 2011

A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers is a celebration of the highest performing educators in DC Public Schools.

DC Public Education Fund (‘the Education Fund’) today announced the addition of Grammy award-winning recording artist and philanthropist John Legend to the program for the second annual A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers event, which will take place on September 19, 2011.

“Great teachers can make all the difference in a child’s education,” said John Legend. “But too often those teachers are not celebrated for their hard work and commitment to student achievement. They deserve to be recognized for their efforts in the classroom.”

For the second year, the Education Fund presents A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers, hosted by NBC4’s Jim Vance, and produced by award-winning director and producer, George Stevens, Jr. Standing Ovation is the highlight of the Education Fund’s year-round efforts to help DCPS recruit, develop, reward, and retain great teachers. 

Last year, at the inaugural Standing Ovation, the business, arts, and philanthropic communities joined together and contributed generously to celebrate the men and women of DC Public Schools who earned the honor of being rated highly effective on the IMPACT evaluation system.

A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers is a critical piece in raising the profiles of DCPS’s great teachers, and in doing so, encouraging effective teaching and high student achievement in every classroom, in every school, in DC Public Schools. 

“Great teachers provide the critical foundation that our children need to succeed,” said DCPS Acting Chancellor Kaya Henderson, “I am delighted that John Legend will be performing at A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers, as a salute to the men and women that work hard every day to make sure that our children are prepared to excel in and out of the school yard.”

A Standing Ovation for DC Teachers takes place at 6:30pm on September 19, 2011, at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, and to support great DC teachers, visit: www.standingovationfordcteachers.org.

 

About DC Public Education Fund: The mission of the Education Fund is to advance excellence in DC Public Schools through private philanthropy. The Education Fund works closely with the school system’s leadership to support effective teaching and high student achievement in every classroom, in every school, in DC Public Schools. 

The Education Fund has focused its efforts on three areas where it believes private funding can have the greatest impact on student learning: compelling and effective schools, great people, and data-driven decision-making. 

Since November 2007, the Education Fund has raised nearly $80 million in commitments on behalf of DC Public Schools from a diverse array of supporters, approximately 80% of whom are based in the DC metro area. Visit www.dceducationfund.org to learn more about the Education Fund.

 

Contact: Caroline Phillips, cphillips@dceducationfund.org

Chicago Sun Times/Mediaplanet "Education in America" Special Report: Read about John Legend's mission for equality in education

June 10, 2011

John Legend speaks to the issues of inequality that we face in the US education system. Read the full article and report at http://doc.mediaplanet.com/all_projects/7266.pdf

USA Today Kindness: Grammy-winning John Legend likes to get 'hands on' with his charity work

April 15, 2011

Apr 07, 2011

To "put boots on the ground" is a military tactic typically taken in the field of conflict to get a better assessment of the situation and, ultimately, an upper hand.

But this isn't just an effective technique for the military, says recording artist John Legend.

The nine-time Grammy Award winner is on a quest to ensure that every child in the USA has access to good education. Key to this effort? Classroom visits, he says. In fact, Legend had just wrapped up a visit to a middle school in Harlem, M.S. 410 Urban Assembly Institute for New Technologies in New York City, when we caught up by phone on Tuesday.

Kindness: Tell us about your visit.

John Legend: This school has been doing impressive work over the past two years, thanks to their partnership with Turnaround for Children (a non-profit working to provide kids with a better education at high poverty schools across America). It's part of my ongoing work with the Show Me Campaign (Legend's non-profit founded in 2007 to break the cycle of poverty through education. He has raised more than $2 million for these efforts to date).

Kindness: What does the Show Me Campaign do?

Legend: We focus very intently on advocating that every kid in America deserves to get a quality education. There are many different models for how that can be achieved. My goal is to bring attention to the programs that are working. As part of that process, we visit schools across the country -- in New York City, Houston, Los Angeles and elsewhere -- to learn what they are doing right. I'm pretty hands-on during my visits, talking with the students, teachers and principals about what's working.

Kindness: What are you hearing from students during these visits?

Legend: The culture and climate of a school is important to these kids. Many express the importance of being in an environment that protects them and provides a place where they can safely learn. When there's chaos outside the school, it hampers everything you're trying to do on the education side. If we really want to turn our under-performing schools around, then we must create a culture where kids can feel safe and protected.

We also need to have high expectations for them. At schools that are doing well, kids usually complain that they have a lot more homework. But they also know that because more is expected of them, they will be better off in the future. Schools need to expect great things from students, no matter what.

Kindness: How do you find the time to be so hands-on with this cause?

Legend: My philosophy in life is do things that I want to do every day. I make time for it. And yes, I'm writing songs, performing and making great money. But that's not enough for me. I feel that I can make a difference by lending a different voice to this cause. But I first have to understand the issues in order to speak intelligently about what needs to happen.

Kindness: What inspires your commitment to education?

Legend: Education was a big difference maker for me. I was home-schooled, and then went to private and public school for two years each. I was then able to go to the University of Pennsylvania (where his music career took off). I've seen how education can make such a great difference if you don't make a lot of money. Most people who grow up poor usually end up in the same place. To break the cycle, you have to get a good education. It's an equalizer and an important tool for empowerment.

Kindness: You've recently teamed up with Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow campaign. Why did this campaign resonate with you? (Legend is joining the company at its "Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Awards Ceremony" in NYC today to announce the recipients of $1 million in technology awards. Five finalists were selected out of more than 1,100 schools from across the country that responded to the question: "How can science or math help improve the environment in your community?")

Legend: I commend and applaud a company like Samsung that understands that the future workforce of America depends on the quality of our schools and invests in their communities. Several of the schools that are winning grants [today] lack the money and access to technology that can make a difference to their students.

Kindness: If there was one thing that every American could do to make a difference when it comes to providing kids with access to a better education, what would it be?

Legend: There are a lot of ways to be involved, but most important is to be an informed voter. Education issues are a big part of the debate right now. Elect politicians who say they're going to fix the system and then back it up with good policies.

We need to hold our whole system accountable to make sure our kids learn and grow year to year. Superintendants, mayors, principals … if they're making excuses abut why they don't succeed, then they're not being accountable for their failures. We need real reform that's proven by results. We all have to be voters that care about that. It's so important. If a school is not working, the kids aren't the problem. We adults have to get our act together and provide these kids with a better environment to learn.

Kindness: What is your ultimate hope for these efforts?

Legend: We feel like we're not done until school reform is done. No matter where you go to school in America, you should be able to get a quality education regardless of your income level, background or race.

Samsung Announces Oregon High School as Grand Prize Winner in National Education Contest, Selected From Among 1,100 Schools Competing For $1 Million in Technology

April 7, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Adam Yates, Samsung Electronics America
(201) 229-4020
ayates@sea.samsung.com

Kate Rambo, Weber Shandwick
(212) 445-8281
krambo@webershandwick.com

Samsung Announces Oregon High School as Grand Prize Winner in National Education Contest, Selected From Among 1,100 Schools Competing For $1 Million in Technology

Grammy Award Winner and Show Me Campaign Founder John Legend
Presents Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Grand Prize to West Salem High School

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., April 7, 2011– Technology leader Samsung, in partnership with Grammy award winner and Show Me Campaign founder,  John Legend, today announced Oregon’s West Salem High School as the grand prize winner in its national science, technology, engineering and mathematics competition.  During the last six months, more than 1,100 schools from across the country have competed for $1 million in technology from Samsung and its partners Microsoft, DirecTV and the Adobe Foundation through the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest. As part of Samsung’s Hope for Children initiative, and in partnership with Change the Equation and the National Environmental Education Foundation, Solve for Tomorrow aims to increase student interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  

“The creativity and the smart application of math and science in these students’ project entries were truly inspirational,” said David Steel, EVP of Strategy and Corporate Communications, Samsung Electronics America. “We know everyone is excited to win this technology, but for us the real win is the enthusiasm and excitement that the program has generated in STEM at schools across the country.”

As the grand prize winner, West Salem High School will choose from a range of technology prizes including projectors, smart boards, LED TVs, printers, laptops and software. The total grand prize package is valued at $155,000.  The school’s use of technology, innovative thinking, and creativity were key factors in setting it apart from the other schools, which was recognized by both a public voting panel and Samsung’s panel of judges.

“Solving the crisis in America's public education system is one of the most critical issues of our time, and Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow competition is an example of a large corporation using its resources to harness the enthusiasm that so many children have for learning,” said John Legend. “I strongly believe that access to quality education is a civil right of every American child.  I'm honored to be a part of initiatives like this that bring opportunities to students from every corner of the country.”

John Legend, who has partnered with Samsung on this and other initiatives also founded the Show Me Campaign, which aims to end educational inequality by spreading awareness about the issue and inspiring citizens to fight for every American child¹s right to a quality public education. Believing that the current state of public education in the United States is a social injustice, the Show Me Campaign also supports increased adoption of more effective education models.

The five finalists honored at the event each received at least $80,000 in additional technology and were selected through a combination of public online voting and Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow panel of expert judges. The panelists included representatives from Samsung, Microsoft, the Adobe Foundation, the National Environmental Education Foundation, Communities in Schools, Great Schools, TWICE Magazine, USA Today Education, and Change the Equation.

Additional information is available through the Samsung Facebook Solve tab at www.facebook.com/SamsungUSA. To learn more about the Samsung Hope for Children initiative visit: www.samsung.com/hope. For images from the event please visit: www.startracksphoto.com.  To learn more about John Legend’s efforts through the Show Me Campaign visit: www.showmecampaign.org.

 

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung’s North American operations including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc.   As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, the Samsung organization is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry.  The company was ranked #19 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand “100 Best Global Brands,” and named as one of Fast Company’s “50 Most Innovative Companies of 2010.”  For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on www.Facebook.com/SamsungUSAor follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.

 

About Samsung Hope for Children

At Samsung we are dedicated to making products that inspire passion and create moments of wonder in people's lives.  In that spirit Samsung Hope for Children was developed with a strategic focus on programs dedicated to helping children share the wonder of life, learning and our planet.  Through our programs, Samsung Electronics America and its retail and business partners have raised more than $30 million for more than 350 schools, community-based foundations, and charities throughout the U.S.   Solve for Tomorrow is the flagship education program.  For more information please visit: www.Samsung.com/Hope

 

About John Legend

Recording artist, concert performer and philanthropist John Legend has won nine Grammy Awards and was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. His new album collaboration with The Roots titled "WAKE UP!," inspired by socially conscious songs from the 60s and 70s and events of today, released in September 2010, features the song "Shine" that John wrote for Waiting for "Superman," Davis Guggenheim's epic documentary about domestic education reform, also released in September 2010.

Throughout his career, John has worked to make a difference in the lives of others. In 2007, John Legend launched The Show Me Campaign (ShowMeCampaign.org), an initiative that uses education to break the cycle of poverty. John sits on the Boards of The Education Equality Project, Teach for America, and the Harlem Village Academies.

 

About The Show Me Campaign

Created by Grammy award-winning artist John Legend, The Show Me Campaign is a nonprofit organization that fights poverty using proven solutions. Believing that equal access to quality education is the civil rights issue of our time, The Show Me Campaign fights for education reform in the United States. More information can be found at www.showmecampaign.org. You can also Fan the Show Me Campaign on www.Facebook.com/ShowMeCampaign or follow the Show Me Campaign via Twitter @showmecampaign.

 

 

 

America’s Promise Alliance and John Legend’s Show Me Campaign Unite to Engage Communities in Dropout Prevention

April 6, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact:
 
Colleen Wilber, America’s Promise Alliance
(202) 657-0647
colleenw@americaspromise.org

Maggie Neilson, The Show Me Campaign
(310) 573-8978
maggie@globalphilanthropy.com

America’s Promise Alliance and John Legend’s Show Me Campaign Unite to Engage Communities in Dropout Prevention

Groups will Distribute Critically-Acclaimed Documentary Waiting for “Superman” DVDs and Facilitate Discussions and Action around High School Dropout Crisis

WASHINGTON –America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) and John Legend’s Show Me Campaign announced today that they will collaborate to raise awareness about America’s high school dropout crisis in underserved communities. The organizations will distribute DVDs and social action toolkits for the critically acclaimed documentary Waiting for “Superman” to communities throughout the country and engage with these communities to reduce their high school dropout rates.

“This film provides such an intimate and powerful look into the challenges that many young people and their families in this country face in their quest to get a good education,” said Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO, America’s Promise Alliance. “It’s heartbreaking to think that the probability of success for many young people is often left to the luck of a school lottery or the quality of the school in their neighborhood. We are grateful to be partnering with the Show Me Campaign to help share the message of this film and inspire action in more communities.”

“Everybody has a role to play in fixing America's public schools,” said John Legend, Grammy award winning artist and founder of the Show Me Campaign. “The future of our nation depends on it.  I hope as many people as possible watch this film.  It will inform you and will hopefully inspire you to join the fight for education reform.”
Directed by Academy Award®-winning director Davis Guggenheim, Waiting for “Superman” examines the challenges and triumphs of the American public education system through the stories of real-life students and their families. The film was first released in spring 2010 and is a Paramount Pictures release of a Participant Media presentation in association with Walden Media.  

Both groups will work with their partner networks to identify communities to host screenings and distribute the DVD and toolkit packages through their chapter affiliates. Partners may include the following organizations: MENTOR, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the National PTA, Stand for Children, the Education Equality Project and others.

This partnership is part of the Alliance’s Grad Nation Campaign, a 10-year campaign to mobilize the entire nation to take action to reverse the dropout crisis and help achieve the overall national goal of increasing the graduation rate for all students to 90 percent by 2020.  Launched in March 2010 with the support of President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Grad Nation is the second phase of the Alliance’s highly successful Dropout Prevention Campaign launched in April 2008.  Between 2008 and 2010, the Alliance sponsored and helped co-convene 105 Dropout Prevention Summits in all 50 states bringing more than 40,000 policy, business, education, community and faith leaders together with nonprofits, parents and young people to discuss the dropout crisis in their communities and begin a dialogue on solutions around it.

To see a copy of the Alliance’s Waiting for “Superman” Toolkit visit: http://www.americaspromise.org/Our-Work/Grad-Nation/Waiting-for-Superman...

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About The Show Me Campaign

Created by Grammy Award-winning artist and philanthropist John Legend, the Show Me Campaign is a nonprofit organization that fights poverty using proven solutions. Believing that equal access to quality education is the civil rights issue of our time, the Show Me Campaign fights for education reform in the United States. Inspired by his work in education reform, Show Me Campaign’s founder John Legend wrote the song “Shine” for Waiting for “Superman,” Davis Guggenheim’s epic documentary about domestic education reform. More information can be found at www.showmecampaign.org.

About America’s Promise Alliance

America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth by raising awareness, supporting communities, and engaging in nonpartisan advocacy. Through our Grad Nation campaign, we harness the collective power of our partner network to mobilize Americans to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce.  Building on the legacy of our Founding Chairman General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes the success of our young people is grounded in the Five Promises—caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others.  For more information about America’s Promise Alliance, visit www.americaspromise.org.