High school students feel a lot of pressure, to be perfect, to succeed, to live. This PSA talks about high school dropout rates and the pressure students face. This program is an outreach initiative of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Education Department and was filmed during the 2016 Can I Kick It? Youth Summer Media Institute.
ABOUT CAN I KICK IT?:
The Youth Media Summer Institute provides both a service learning and educational technology component which allows students creative ways to engage in two weeks of leadership development, media production training, and creation of short documentaries and narratives in groups to address Mississippi’s Dropout Crisis. With video cameras in hand, students realize the power of voice and recognize the clarity of vision.
Through documentary film work, students have the opportunity to tell their own stories, express amazing ideas, and creatively share their concerns and solutions with the world. Participants learn to work collaboratively, set goals, and develop leadership skills.
Students are recommended by their principals and/or counselors based on behavioral infractions, high truancy levels and low academic scores.
The Youth Media Summer Institute is normally held the last two weeks of July.
Credits:
Director
Makallen Kelly
Producer
Asaye Jones
Story by
Shaniya Johnson
Writers
Makallen Kelly
Shaniya Johnson
Contributing Writers
Asaye Jones
Alexia Ford
Tyelor Reid
Camera
Alexia Ford
Sound Engineer
Michael Hargrove of Delta State sound studios
Actors
Tyelor Ford
Shaniya Johnson
Executive Director (Producer), MPB
Ronnie Agnew
Deputy Executive Director for Education, MPB
Maggie Stevenson
Chief Counsel and Deputy Director, MPB
Joseph Gatlin
Director of Production, MPB
John Gibson
Director of Community Engagement, MPB
Sharon Person
Production Coordinator
Thabi Moyo
Dropout Prevention Coordinator, MPB
Shantay Griffith
MPB Education
Margie Banks
Helen Dukes
Tonya Garcia
Shelia Brown Robinson
Roshondra Sipp
Tolarrious Washington
MPB Production
Scott Colwell
Taiwo Gaynor
MPB Radio
Jonas Adams
Lasharne Patton
MPB Communications
Ellie Banks
Ashley Jefcoat
Mari Irby
Tara Wren
MPB Art Department
Christy Chamblee
Melissa Webster
MPB Business Office
Joyce Jerrolds
Paul Moore
Producer Mentors
Artrial Clark
Randy Kwan
Ashtin Rocks
Simba Sims
Filming Locations
Mississippi Public Broadcasting
Mississippi Library Commission
Smith Will Stadium
Special Thanks
Prince Duren & Maddrama
Lawrence Quinn
Sam Minter
Marshall Ramsey
Carlos Wilson
Delta State University - Delta Music Institute
Tiffany Yelder
Steve Renfrow - Mississippi Baseball Club
Jessica Simien
Maranda Joiner
Rosaline McCoy
Jason Clark
Kristen Ley
Felix Anderson
Councilman Tyrone Hendrix
Councilman Melvin Priester
Learn more at http://www.mpbonline.org
