10 Sep 2013

Mark your calendars for American Graduate Day 2013

By Davenport Parks & Recreation

"American Graduate Day 2013," Live National Multiplatform Event to Keep Students on the Path to Graduation,

Premieres September 28 on WQPT

Featuring local and national programming, community partners, and celebrities focused on solutions to the nation's high school dropout crisis

Local Broadcast to Showcase WQPT's Efforts to Address the Needs of At-Risk Kids

MOLINE, IL -- "American Graduate Day 2013" will premiere live at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 on WQPT, marking a long-term commitment to helping communities tackle the nation's dropout crisis and preparing students for success with a high school diploma. Through the power and reach of public media, communities across the county will be invited to take an active role and become an "American Graduate Champion" for local youth by volunteering their time, talent, or other resources.

"American Graduate Day 2013," a multi-platform event featuring local and national programming, community partners and celebrities focused on improving the high school graduation rates in America, will be broadcast and streamed live from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City. "American Graduate Day" is part of the public media initiative, "American Graduate: Let's Make It Happen,"made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). WQPT will spotlight local organizations and individuals and the work they are doing in the community to help students graduate from high school.

The key component of the event is the participation of the community-based organizations, including such groups as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, City Year, Horizons National and the United Way.

 

"'American Graduate Day 2013' offers WQPT the opportunity to build upon our work with the United Way and Achieve Quad Cities.  We want to keep the spotlight on the drop-out crisis and all of the ways we can help to turn it around," said Mary Pruess, General Manager.

American Graduate Day 2013 features a seven-hour "call to action" marathon focused around critical themes: expanded learning time and after-school programs, early education, mentoring, career readiness and college completion, STEM programs, family support and drop-out re-engagement and prevention. Hosted by on-air personalities from PBS, WNET and other media organizations, the broadcast and online event will be divided into 14 half-hour blocks featuring a mix of live breaks and pre-taped partner segments showing how community organizations provide support, advice, and intervention services to at-risk students, families, and schools. Within each of these half-hour blocks, WQPT will customize the national feed with a locally-produced live or pre-taped seven-minute segment.

On AmericanGraduate.org, the event will include live viewer-generated video content submitted in response to questions such as "How has your life changed, or been changed by the power of volunteering?"

Throughout the day, viewers and online users will be invited to become American Graduate Champions by connecting with WQPT and the featured local community organizations. Viewers will be encouraged to participate in the event by asking questions and sharing ideas before and during the broadcast on Twitter using the hashtag #AmGrad and on Facebook. Those interested in becoming an "American Graduate Champion" can also call the toll-free number on the day of broadcast or log on to AmericanGraduate.org to find out more about the national and regional organizations.

Visit the "American Graduate Day" at http://americangraduate.org/grad-day for more information.

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About WQPT

WQPT is celebrating 30 years as the local PBS station for eastern Iowa and western Illinois.  WQPT is the media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

About AMERICAN GRADUATE

American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen is helping local communities identify and implement solutions to the high school dropout crisis. American Graduate demonstrates public media's commitment to education and its deep roots in every community it serves. Beyond providing programming that educates, informs and inspires, public radio and television stations ? locally owned and operated ? are an important resource in helping to address critical issues, such as the dropout rate. In addition to national programming, more than 75 public radio and television stations in 33 states have launched on-the-ground efforts working with community and at risk youth to keep students on-track to high school graduation. More than 1000 partnerships have been formed locally through American Graduate, and CPB is working with Alma and Colin Powell's America's Promise Alliance and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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 more than 1,400 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

10 Sep 2013

WQPT Ambassadors win national award

By Lora Adams

WQPT AMBASSADORS RECEIVE THE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AWARD FOR 2013

 

MOLINE, IL - The WQPT-PBS Ambassadors have been selected to receive the Grassroots Advocacy Award for 2013 from the National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB). A part of the mission of NFPB is to showcase outstanding public broadcasting volunteers, volunteer-led programs, and volunteer program managers from across the nation.

The WQPT-PBS Ambassadors, which is in its ninth year, is a student-oriented program focused on community outreach efforts, as well as fundraising support. The 2013 ambassadors are from Western Illinois University, Augustana College, Black Hawk College, Monmouth College, St. Ambrose University, University of Northern Iowa and St. Francis College of Nursing.


"We understand the importance of being active in our community, but sometimes that can be difficult with a small staff," said Bea Brasel, WQPT special projects coordinator. "We rely on our student ambassadors to represent WQPT in the community to help build reading, science and math skills through our programming. We are delighted that our WQPT-PBS Ambassadors have received this national honor."

The ambassadors will be honored at a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Riverfront campus.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

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04 Sep 2013

After Years Sharing Bad News, Former TV Anchor to Co-Host Good News 'Angels' Show

By Rick Martin

A beloved TV news anchor who got tired of being "the mouthpiece for the daily human tragedy" and a popular international speaker are the hosts of a unique new TV series, "Angels in the Neighborhood."

Beverly Kidd left TV news two years ago and launched a successful career in real estate. Robert Van Arlen is a keynote speaker, emcee and concert pianist who volunteers his talents for several charities. The two just wrapped production of the show's pilot, said series creator and co-executive producer Jim Lindsey.

"We're telling true, compelling stories to introduce the American public to the real human angels in their neighborhoods," says Lindsey, who has developed numerous primetime TV specials, network series and major motion pictures while serving as vice chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide. "But that's just one aspect of this project. We want to create a grassroots movement of Angel copycats, if you will. We also plan to donate10 percent of profits from the show to the Angels we discover."

The production is inspired and funded by John Shimer, a director of the charitable corporation Fortune Family Foundation.

"Angels in the Neighborhood," produced by Angel Wings Entertainment of Los Angeles, answers a prayer for co-host Kidd.

"For 10 years, I read the evening news in Phoenix and realized that I didn't want to be the mouthpiece for the daily human tragedy," she says. "So in 2011, I left my job and went into real estate. I didn't think I'd work in TV again because it wasn't fulfilling."

When she was invited to co-host "Angels in the Neighborhood," she immediately said yes.

"I love the idea of creating not just a TV show but a culture, a movement of people helping people. I can't tell you how many people used to ask me, 'Why can't you tell positive stories on the news?' This is what viewers have been asking for."

Van Arlen, meanwhile, says the show aligns perfectly with his core values.

"I believe in building inspirational communities one person at a time," he says. "This is an amazing opportunity to inspire others to get involved with local charities all over the country."

The company invites the public to submit nominations for Angel candidates by visiting www.AngelWingsEntertainment.com.

Visit AngelWingsEntertainment.com; find it at Facebook.com/AngelWingsTV or follow on Twitter, @AngelWingsTV.

30 Aug 2013

WQPT LAUNCHES NEW TRAILERS

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL -- If you want "real" reality television, look no further than WQPT and PBS.

CHI & Partners, a New York marketing and advertising agency, created a series of fake reality television trailers for public television, comparing absurd reality TV with the quality of public television programming. WQPT will air these trailers throughout October.

At the end of these trailers a plain and simple message is revealed, "The fact that you thought this was a real show says a lot about the state of TV." According to WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess, the trailers are intended to make people realize that although they might occasionally indulge in reality-style programming, it's also important to support a public broadcasting station, which doesn't have a giant marketing force behind it and relies on its members to keep running.

"We saw these spots and thought they were very funny. We asked WNET in New York if they would be willing to allow us to share them with our audience," Pruess added. "While the message is intended as tongue-in-cheek, we want people to stop and think about the value that our public television station delivers to our communities, at no cost. We hope these spots will start a vibrant conversation about quality television and remind viewers why they should support local public television."

The trailers can also be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/pages/WQPT-Quad-Cities-PBS/152046043220 and at wqpt.org.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Ill.

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20 Aug 2013

Experience C-SPAN during a Davenport PUBLIC VISIT at CASI

By Sarah Arp
Public Invited to Tour Unique C-SPAN Bus, Meet C-SPAN Representatives

Davenport area residents are invited to step aboard the C-SPAN Bus and take a FREE TOUR of a unique, interactive multi-media center.  

Thursday, August 22

11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Parked outside CASI  -- 1035 West Kimberly Road  --  Davenport

With a fresh new look, the C-SPAN Bus is kicking off a new tour season - bringing its digital Video Library and public affairs resources to Davenport.  Teachers, students and the public will enjoy this tour of a 45-foot bus that is unlike anything else - state-of-the-art digital media technology on wheels.  Learn about the First Ladies series or how to follow Washington Your Way - encourage students to participate in StudentCam (Iowa students earned national recognition in recent contests). Door prizes and great information for all visitors.   FREE & open to the public.

Mediacom is proud to sponsor C-SPAN's Iowa tour, with visits in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Mason City.  C-SPAN is a non-partisan, non-profit cable network founded and funded by the cable industry.  Mediacom customers will find all THREE C-SPAN channels on local channel lineups.  Special thanks to the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI).

For more information, visit: www.c-span.org/community or contact Mediacom's community relations office at 515-707-7148.
16 Aug 2013

New Book "Darn Good" Opens Door to Little Prairie Schoolhouses

By Rick Martin

There were few settlers in the west until after the Civil War. When they arrived one of the first things they did was build a schoolhouse made out of logs. Soon rural education districts were developed and the need for teachers grew dramatically. The struggle to provide those teachers grew as rapidly. The story of education in Minnesota  followed along that line and Steve Grineski captures it in his new book We Were Pretty Darn Good.

Teddy Roosevelt said that the farmer was the back bone of America and the need for education was absolutely necessary. His words and subsequent Country Life Commission in 1909 spurred an impetus. Soon chalk and blackboard became common place in schoolhouses in countryside America and progressive education was underway. .The story is in Steve Grineski's new book We Were Pretty Darn Good recently published by History Publishing Company.

Paul Theobold, Dean of Education at Buena Vista University, knows a great deal about history and education and said of Steve Grineski's new book that "Utilizing sources ignored by the vast majority of historians who rush to document America's urban experience, he demonsrates that there was a time in America when the countryside mattered, when genuine efforts were made to tailor rural education to the circumstances of life."

Author Steve Grineski has documented those efforts and  uncovered a virtual  mother lode of information and fact that brings alive a remarkable time in America  adding to the legacy of the world of education and the nostalgic world of countryside America that added immeasurably to the  growth of the United States.

Steve Grineski started his teaching career in 1975 as an elementary teacher. In 1984 he joined the Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) faculty and in 1989 earned his doctorate from the University of North Dakota. We Were Pretty Darn Good 9781933909523 was published by History Published Company in May, 2013. It is also available in e-book 1-933909295.It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, and fine bookstores everywhere.

16 Aug 2013

Poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez Publishes Kindle Edition of "Hey Yo! Yo Soy!"

By Rick Martin

2Leaf Press publishes Kindle Edition of Historical Bilingual Poetry Collection by Nuyorican poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/14/2013 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce its first Kindle publication, "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" by Nuyorican poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez. Besides being the first major contemporary poet to publish his works bilingually in the U.S., he is also the first to publish his collected works as an eBook on Amazon Kindle.

The 386-page bilingual print edition published in October 2012, is currently available for sale on Amazon.com and other online outlets. The collection, comprised of three previously published books, "Casting Long Shadows" (1970), "Have You Seen Liberation" (1971), and "Street Poetry & Other Poems" (1972), consist of 60 poems about growing up Puerto Rican in New York City's El Barrio.

Born and raised in New York City from parents who migrated from Puerto Rico, Meléndez notes, "Back then, it was a different experience being a Puerto Rican in New York City. The sense of not belonging to Puerto Rico and not belonging in the United States is something everyone was going through. Writing gave me a chance to prove that I was a human being and in doing so, I became part of a movement that connected me to my heritage." Meléndez has long been considered one of the founders of the Nuyorican Movement.

The Spanish translations, which appear alongside the English, have been superbly rendered by Adam Wier, Carolina Fung Feng, and Marjorie González. The collection includes a forward by Samuel Diaz and Carmen M. Pietri-Diaz, a commentary about the translation process by Wier, an introduction by Sandy Maria Esteves, and an afterword by Jaime "Shaggy" Flores, as well as historical photos of Meléndez and an exclusive interview, edited by Gabrielle David and Kevin E. Tobar Pesántez. All of this material has been retained and is available on the Kindle edition as well.

Very few literary publishers have committed to publishing poetry in an eBook format," says Gabrielle David, publisher of 2Leaf Press. "The first problem is the budget, being able to afford qualified people to convert the books properly into a stable digital format that's readable across numerous devices. The biggest problem is figuring out the best way to format the work without losing the spacing or formatting of the poems. We've been looking at this closely for the past two years and feel confident that by using HTML formatting techniques with clean code, and paying special attention to line breaks and spacing, for the most part, we can maintain the aesthetics of the author's poetry."

The press has decided to break out its eBook titles with Amazon's Kindle before expanding its market to Nook and Kobo. "For the benefit of anyone reading this," explains David, "you don't have to own a Kindle to read our books. You can download one of the free Kindle Apps on Amazon.com for your Android phone or tablet, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows 8 PC or tablet, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone." 2Leaf Press plans to upload titles directly to Barnes & Noble and KoboBooks in the immediate future.

Whether it's in print or eBook format, 2Leaf Press encourages readers to pick up a copy of "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition." It is a collection to be devoured as a single sustained narrative, from the first page to the last; a worthy addition in anyone's library.

AMAZON PRINT EDITION || AMAZON KINDLE

2Leaf Press || NUYORICAN WORLD SERIES || ISBN: 978-0988476301 || LCCN: 2012951817

About 2Leaf Press
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy. http://www.2leafpress.org

16 Aug 2013

Nominations for TV Series Reveal Scores of 'Human Angels'

By Rick Martin

Nominations of "human angels" are pouring in for a national TV series that will tell the stories of everyday Americans who give of themselves to help others.

"We're finding there are so many people from every walk of life - young children and teenagers, the very elderly, rich people and poor - quietly extending their hands to others," said Jim Lindsey, chairman of  Angel Wings Entertainment, LLC, a company on a mission to find and inspire "human angels" across the country.

"So many of their stories have brought tears to our eyes. These are people who see a need and say, 'I can do something about this. I can help,' And with their gifts of time and service, they transform lives."

The company is still accepting nominations at www.AngelWingsEntertainment.com. Those selected as Angels will be featured in mini-documentaries and stand to win money for their charities. It's part of a multi-media effort to "shine a light on the best of human behavior" and inspire a national movement of giving and caring.

The effort is funded in part by an endowment from philanthropist John Shimer, who teamed with a like-minded group of veteran media and marketing professionals.

Shimer's work with a "human angel," a woman who established a vocational school in impoverished Uganda, inspired him to launch the Angels Among Us Project. That effort to recognize and reward service to others led to the creation of the media company, Angel Wings Entertainment. Shimer is a director of the charitable corporation Fortune Family Foundation.

"We need to see more stories about the good things people do, rather than all the bad," Shimer said. "If we want to see the best in human behavior, we need to be showing people what that looks like."

The Angel Wings Entertainment board includes Lindsey, a renowned brand builder and former vice-chairman of the top advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide, as well as a leader of ad agencies McCaffrey & McCall and Hill Holiday/Wakeman & DeForrest.

It also includes CEO Tom Keegan, an entertainment industry veteran who has worked on more than 500 productions for ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and national syndication, including the Emmy Award-winning Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (ABC), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (motion picture for NBC), The Hollywood Reporter, Front Runners and Celebrity Sweepstakes.

Follow Angel Wings Entertainment on Twitter: @AngelWingsTV.

09 Aug 2013

E-Galley Now Availabe for Wisdom From the Oval Office

By Don Bracken

New Book on Ultimate Presidential Quotations Now Available - Right Here

For E-book galley-   Click on "Widget" below.

Abraham Lincoln said "I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today that he was yesterday." If you were to read the new book Wisdom from the Oval Office by Pierce Word, you would surely rise in the regard of President Lincoln if he were alive today.  The book gathers together the sage thoughts of the forty-four American presidents in the largest collection of presidential quotations ever assembled. Thoughts on love, life, success, politics, wisdom, and thirty five other categories are brought to light and bring insight into varying perspectives of the nine generations of presidents.

Along with Abraham Lincoln, the words of the presidents from Washington to Obama are presented about a broad range of subjects such as love, religion, God, and friendship. The flow of quotations and the manner in which they are categorized shows the frame of mind of each president such as Lincoln's spirituality, Nixon's binocular view of love and fear, and Obama on parental love.

You are invited to see for yourself. Just click on the "Widget" below (it is just a URL to NetGalley)) and you will be able to read the galley through the month of August. .

Wisdom from the Oval Office, pub date July 26, 2012 is available at Barnes and Noble, BN.com, Amazon and fine book stores nationally.

Contact: Don Bracken, djb@historypublishingco.com, 845-398-8161

Click on Widget here https://www.netgalley.com/widget/open?widget_id=34261_42987_137479472951f1b3e927845_9781933909936_US

05 Aug 2013

New book urges readers to 'think, think, think'

By Rick Martin

'No Room on the Fence' offers a new method of critical thinking and explains why it's important

ARTHUR, Iowa - Author, scientist and former teacher Merle D. Schramm was inspired to write his new book "No Room on the Fence: A Serious Discourse on Controversial Topics" (published by CrossBooks) after witnessing the lack of critical thinking and knowledge his students displayed.

"The students did not know the difference between democratic government and a republic form of government," he says. "Most students didn't know the biblical background of the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Many of the students could not name the early presidents."

When he dug deeper into the issue, he realized the flaw was not a lack of knowledge. Rather, it was as failure of critical thinking. "No Room on the Fence," he says, is intended to help any person research and think in a logical fashion. He believes it will help them learn not just to believe, but to think about what they believe.

"It is imperative," Schramm says, "that people need to return to scientific reasoning to get our nation back to a Christian basis. Our nation can survive only when a true revival takes place. And only God can do that."

"No Room on the Fence"

By Merle D. Schramm

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 68 pages | ISBN 9781462728190

E-Book | 68 pages | ISBN 9781462728206

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Merle D. Schramm attended the Universities of Northern Iowa, Colorado State, South Dakota, California's UCLA, Northern Colorado and Montana State. He received his master's degree in science from the University of Colorado in 1977. He taught physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics in high schools, elementary schools and junior colleges. He also worked as a pesticide research chemist with the Colorado Health Department and as a nuclear weapons research chemist and physicist at Dow Chemical Company. He and his wife have taught Sunday school classes for more than 60 years.

CrossBooks, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, is a Christian publishing imprint committed to bringing more Christian voices into the publishing industry. Established authors, first-time authors, and authors anywhere in between can meet their goals and fulfill their vision for their books by publishing with CrossBooks. CrossBooks' innovative style of publishing blends the best of traditional and self-publishing. While our authors contribute monetarily to cover the cost of publishing, we maintain a strict moral and quality standard that every manuscript must meet for us to publish. For more information on publishing your Christian book with CrossBooks, log on to crossbooks.com or call 1-866-879-0502.

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