ATLANTA, April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Literate Nation Atlanta, whose mission is to "motivate teens to ‘get into’ high school and prepare for life," will produce three local student events featuring hip-hop legend and entrepreneur Russell Simmons. Students from six local high schools will receive a free copy of Russell’s inspirational new book, Do You! Northsprings, Westlake, Carver, Therrell, Southside and Washington high schools will participate.
Despite heroic efforts on the part of school administrators and teachers, 43,000 students attend 35 metro Atlanta high schools that generate an average SAT
score at or below 900 out of 1,500 or (60%). Additionally, only a small % of students in these troubled schools are sitting for the test.
Dropout rates for these high school students range from 33% — 50% depending on race. The Gates foundation calls this situation, "the silent epidemic."
"Many of the students failing or dropping out live in an environment that has not sold them on the inviolate interconnection between higher education and success in America. This may be due to influences from their family, socio-economic situation or social group," said Hinton Dillard, Chairman and Founder, Literate Nation.
Dillard continued, "We, the non-profit and business community, must deliver to the students in these challenged high schools the same advantages students in Atlanta’s private schools enjoy or this unbearable track record will continue. These advantages include constant inspiration, mentoring by successful professionals, a clear understanding of how the business world selects its employees, and access to college campuses."
Literate Nation Atlanta meets this challenge by producing monthly high school presentations by Atlanta and the U.S’s most successful business executives, entrepreneurs, authors, doctors, lawyers etc. 500 — 2,000 students participate each month. Notable figures involved in our productions include: Russell Simmons, Rhonda Mims (ING), Nikki Giovanni (Virginia Tech), Evern Cooper Epps (UPS), T.J. Holmes (CNN), Melissa Long (CNN), Ron Frieson (BellSouth), Nelson Demille (Author), Ted Hall (WXIA), Brad Meltzer (Author), Greg Fulton (Time Magazine), Stephen J. Cannell (TV producer, author), Shelia Moses (Author) and Daniel Silva (Author).
Each major Literate Nation presentation is prefaced with a one-hour life- skills seminar that teaches students about business, employment and pathways to success.
About Russell Simmons: Master entrepreneur and visionary Russell Simmons has brought hip-hop to every facet of business and media, not only as cofounder of Def Jam Records but also through his involvement in the clothing lines Phat Farm, Run Athletics and baby Phat and Def Jam University; MTV’s Run’s House, HBO’s Def Jam Comedy, and Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry; the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network promoting empowerment in young people; and numerous other ventures in the financial services industry, mobile communications, and philanthropy. A native New Yorker, he is the proud father of two daughters.
About Hinton Dillard: Hinton Dillard is a business executive, entrepreneur, a passionate reader and aspiring novelist. Dillard attended the National Book Festival in 2004, and was so impressed that he decided to launch a literacy program in Atlanta. With guidance from mentors in New York’s publishing industry the Atlanta International Festival of Books (dba) Literate Nation Atlanta was incorporated and achieved IRS non-profit status in 2005. Literate Nation Atlanta has produced or co-produced an event or multiple events each month since incorporation.
CONTACT: Brittany Tennant, Project Manager, 770-712-3654 or brittanytennant@comcast.net for Literate Nation Atlanta
Web site: http://www.litnation.org/.
CONTACT: Gotham Books: Ashwini Ramaswamy, Senior Publicist, (212) 366-2223 or ashwini.ramaswamy@us.penguingroup.com.
Source: Literate Nation Atlanta
