Briefing Ted Kennedy

Friday, August 28 2009 - Briefing Ted Kennedy

SECOND INTERVIEW!!

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Jeffrey Thomas

As Americans mourn the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, many remember how he touched their lives.

Growing up as the son of a Mississippi preacher, Jeffrey Thomas began to notice elaborate velvet paintings of the Kennedys hanging on parishioners' walls. After graduating college he landed a job as a legislative aide to Ted Kennedy. Jeffrey says one of the most terrifying moments of his career unfolded when he forgot to pack an important memo for the senator. He tells Dick how being given a second chance redefined his career.

• See Jeffrey and Senator Kennedy at work in 1993
• Learn more about Jeffrey's work at Democracy and Education

CLEANING UP

Thursday, August 27 2009 - Cleaning up

Jerome Boykin, top, Marcus Clemmons, below.

In the months after Hurricane Katrina, 23-year-old Jerome Boykin started his own company sweeping big box store parking lots. Four years later, his business has expanded throughout southern Louisiana, and he's now mentoring others. One of the people he's helped is Marcus Clemmons of Oakland, Calif.

The two men talk with Dick Gordon about how much it means to them to have found successful black role models for themselves, and how they are now returning the favor to others.

• See Jerome with his truck
  
• Learn more about Marcus and Jerome's parking lot sweeping businesses

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ANOTHER AWARD-WINNING SUMMER!!

For the second-consecutive year, Anita S. Woodley and Dick Gordon won first place in the Interview/Discussion category of the Radio Network Division. The award-winning piece titled "Lessons From A Dropout," was awarded by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Read more about the 2008 NABJ Awards

Originally Aired: Wednesday, December 10 2008

LESSONS FROM A DROPOUT

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Gerrin Hayes Craig Zeno

Among many other concerns in a faltering economy is the dropout rate - in some U.S. cities, as many as half of entering freshmen fail to graduate. Policy makers say that means we'll have fewer educated minds to grapple with economic problems, and an increased burden for social services.

Twenty-year-old Gerrin Hayes just dropped out of high school. He says growing up in a crack house made it impossible to focus on studying. But Gerrin still has hope. He has a mentor, Craig Zeno, who once was a dropout himself, and he makes a strong case for the value of school.

Gerrin tells Dick Gordon why it's still important to him to earn a high school diploma. And Craig talks about how working with tough cases like Gerrin's motivates him to keep doing this work.

• Learn about the dropout assistance program where Craig works