For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 14, 2002 Contact:Kyle Good 212-697-2323 X103
Gigi Hinton 202-662-3609
MTV Special Presentation: We Shall Overcome: Stories from the Children's Defense Fund Portrays the Hardships of Growing Up Poor in America
Program Celebrating MLK Birthday Illustrates the Need for a Movement to Leave No Child Behind
New York -- MTV Networks will air a special half-hour program, We Shall Overcome: Stories from the Children's Defense Fund, on Friday, January 18, at 5:30 p.m., in recognition of Martin Luther King's Birthday. Hosted by R & B artist, Faith Evans, the program tells the stories of five New York City public high school seniors who have achieved academic and personal success despite facing challenges that would have derailed many adults. Collectively, they have overcome illness, abuse, poverty, homelessness, and abandonment, yet have emerged as leaders in their schools and communities.
"Dr. King taught us that, wherever we live and whatever our color or income, we are all part of a single family," says Marian Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund. "We must now apply that lesson to the way we treat children and families, especially those living in poverty. It is time for America to support a powerful national movement like Dr. King's movement that guarantees the right of every child to grow up healthy, educated, safe, and able to realize their full potential."
The stories in We Shall Overcome: Stories from the Children's Defense Fund illustrate the urgent issues in our country that must be addressed if we are to improve the lives of poor children, poverty, abuse, violence, hunger, homelessness, and lack of health care. All of these issues are part of the comprehensive Act to Leave No Child Behind (S.940/H.R.1990) introduced into Congress in May 2001, by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Representative George Miller (D-CA) and supported by the Children's Defense Fund.
"We can no longer allow 1 in 6 children to live in poverty in the richest nation on earth," says Edelman. "We have the know-how, the experience, the tools and resources to end child poverty and suffering. And we have the responsibility as mothers, fathers, grandparents, and concerned and sensible citizens to act now."
The lives of these five young people reveal the enormous challenges that must be overcome by those who grow up poor, neglected, or without a loving family in America.
WENDY CHEUNG, 17 -- attends Stuyvesant High School, New York, NYWendy Cheung credits her parents with keeping her grounded despite their life of poverty in a land where they do not speak the language. She lives in the projects of Chinatown with her mother who works in a factory, her father who is a cook, and two younger sisters. Wendy, who attends the prestigious and competitive Stuyvesant High School, does not let the intense competition for grades at her school overshadow her long-term goals. Wendy cares deeply about the poverty and racism she sees all around her and has created videos about her life experiences. She plans to become a writer and leader in the community who can help the next generation of Chinese-Americans build bridges to a better life here in America.
JOSHUA ALEX IRIZARRY, 17 -- attends William Cullen Bryant High School, Long Island City, NY"I witnessed many things a child shouldn't," says Joshua Irizarry. His mother is a cocaine addict and his father a reformed alcoholic and cocaine addict. When Joshua was small, there was never enough food to eat and whatever money his parents got from welfare was spent on drugs. His family was constantly on the move, sometimes ending up in shelters. When he was finally placed in foster care his life did not get better; instead, he was subjected to abuse and neglect. After being returned to his parents, the drug abuse soon started again, with his mother holding Joshua out the window to force his father to buy drugs for her. Years later, when his mother held his little brother out the window as she had done to Joshua, he hit her. She responded by burning his back with her cigarette. Today Joshua and his three brothers are finally together in a safe foster home, thanks to Joshua's tireless efforts. In addition to caring for his siblings, Joshua is captain of the track team, writes poetry, and plays his trumpet in his high school concert band and jazz band. He is passionate about his music and thinking about becoming a music teacher.
SHEKHINAH LOUISE JAY, 17 -- attends Townsend Harris High School, Queens, NY Shekhinah Lousie Jay's grandmother is the shining light in her life, having raised her from the age of 10 when both of Shekhinah's parents died of AIDS. Her grandmother also took in two of Shekhinah's cousins, who have been like brothers to her. Because her grandmother was elderly, Shekhinah had to do most of the cooking and cleaning while working hard to keep her grades up. Then last year, tragedy struck again. One of Shekhinah's "brothers" was shot and killed at the age of 18. But despite all of the sadness she has experienced in her young life, Shekhinah maintains a 92 g.p.a., taking advanced placement classes at her high school. "I turned my grief into potential," she says. In addition to her studies, Shekhinah is a member of the band and captain of the bowling team. She is also active in her church and works part-time at a telemarketing firm. Shekhinah and her classmates recently raised more than $2,000 for the relief effort for victims of the World Trade Center attacks.
SANDRA M. TYNDALE, 17 -- attends Curtis High School, Staten Island, NYSandra Tyndale knows how important caring nurses can be to their patients, and that's why she is determined to become one. She has lived with pain, weakness, and shortness of breath, brought on by severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and just last year, underwent spinal surgery that kept her out of school for six weeks. Along with her physical problems, Sandra has also been forced to experience homelessness and a crumbling family life on the move. She and her mother and sister were evicted and moved in with relatives before ending up in a crack-ridden apartment building with no heat or hot water. Despite these major life interruptions, Sandra managed to stay focused at school, maintaining a 93 g.p.a. in the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPA) Program. She has also volunteered more than 160 hours at the Staten Island University Hospital and hopes to attend NYU School of Nursing next year on her way to becoming a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatrics. "I want to make a difference in people's lives," says Sandra.
MOHAMMAD A. ZUBAIR, 16 -- attends Sheepshead Bay High School, Brooklyn, NYMohammed Zubair is in the top two percent of his class in advanced placement courses, represents his school in math competitions as a member of the math team, writes for the school newspaper, and tutors students in math and Urdu, his native language. That would be a remarkable list of achievements for any young person, but is especially so considering that Mohammad arrived in the United States only a year and a half ago, escaping a life of poverty in his native Pakistan. For eight years, he and his mother and brother waited to join his father in America. Until money began arriving from his father, food was scarce and the family's debts were mounting due to medical expenses for his ailing grandparents. His parents speak only broken English and are barely making it financially. But despite their struggles, his family clings to their hopes for a brilliant and talented son. Mohammad adds, "Whenever you hear or read the name Mohammad or Muslim or Islam, please don't associate it with terrorism, because I, just like thousands of other citizens of humanity, am a Muslim, follow the teachings of Islam, and share the name Mohammad."
This program is airing as part of the ongoing MTV series, "Fight for Your Rights."
The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
###
RSS