Chasing the Dream: Poverty and Opportunity in America is WNET’s multi-platform public media Initiative that aims to provide a deeper understanding of the impact of poverty on American society: what life is like below the poverty line, its impact on our economic security and on our children, and what has happened to our age-old dream of striving for a better life. We’ll also highlight solutions: what has worked – and what is working to bring people out of poverty – and what lessons we can and must learn for the future. Chasing the Dream news reports can be found online and on air on PBS NewsHour Weekend, MetroFocus, Long Island Business Report and NJTV News. The initiative will also include a signature nationally distributed one-hour documentary that will focus on one or more of the promises, pitfalls, and/or paradoxes in the search for the American dream and in-depth reporting on the ongoing economic challenges of Atlantic City as it struggles with the implosion of its casino industry and the loss of more than 8,000 jobs. Major funding for this initiative is provided by The JPB Foundation. Additional funding is provided by Ford Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Mission: A public media initiative from WNET in NY reporting on poverty in America -- the deep impacts and promising solutions.
Who is Robert F. Smith, the man behind the pledge to eliminate the student loans of the Morehouse College Class of 2019? Learn more about him and other black entrepreneurs in the PBS/Thirteen WNET New York film "BOSS: The Black Experience in Business." Now streaming: bit.ly/BOSSpbs
![Would you want your, or your child's, college application process to include an "adversity" score? [via PBS NewsHour]](https://img.medioq.com/2/safe_image.php?d=AQC1iE_VFxpZ4FwM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net%2Fnewshour%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F09%2FGettyImages-52298997.jpg&_nc_hash=AQAHnupGOpFDhWjr)
Would you want your, or your child's, college application process to include an "adversity" score? [via PBS NewsHour]
"This is a tool designed for admission officers to view a student's academic accomplishment in the context of where they live and learn," said a spokeswoman for the College Board.
Five college essays that prove young people have a lot to say about the intimate role money plays in a household. [The New York Times] https://nyti.ms/2HoL5fy
Each year, we ask high school seniors to submit college application essays they’ve written about work, money, social class and related topics. Here are five that moved us.
It's graduation season -- what should today’s graduating high school seniors know about life after high school? We want to share your thoughts with the class of 2019:
"I wasn't satisfied hearing one side of things, even if it was the side I agreed with," says recent Williams College grad Zachary Wood. [MetroFocus]
At 22, Zachary Wood shares his “Uncensored” thoughts on race, poverty, abuse and the possibility of dissent in higher education on MetroFocus.
![The largest provider of shelters to families in NYC explains why homelessness is on the rise. [MetroFocus]](https://img.medioq.com/2/safe_image.php?d=AQDQO8-p0GtR7hAW&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fwnet%2Fchasing-the-dream%2Ffiles%2F2019%2F05%2FjlnC296-asset-mezzanine-16x9-gdFPv8M.jpg&_nc_hash=AQBXhY62Qm2HavSv)
The largest provider of shelters to families in NYC explains why homelessness is on the rise. [MetroFocus]
Our partners at MetroFocus talk to Christine Quinn, the president and CEO of the largest provider of shelters to families in New York city.
In the conversation around college food insecurity, we often forget the compounding effects of unemployment and student debt after graduation. [Amanpour and Company]
While in school, students struggling financially can't pay for the basic necessities. If they drop out, they may face student debt and unemployment.
Because we should be supporting mothers every day of the year. Happy Mother's Day 🌷
BY: Nina Joung This Mother’s Day, we’re presenting our top five stories about supporting mothers across the country. 1. Encourage them to pursue their #EverydayHustle to make ends meet. Cecilia Brentlinger came from Peru as a single mother, saw the female taxi drivers going across Time Square an...
"In neighborhoods like South Park, white residents are changing not only the racial mix of the community; they are also altering the economics of the real estate beneath everyone." [via The New York Times]
Nationwide, the arrival of white homeowners in places they’ve long avoided is jolting the economics of the land beneath everyone.
We need to stop focusing on the uber privileged and better support the "privileged poor", according to assistant professor at Harvard University Anthony Jack. [MetroFocus]
Anthony Jack has witnessed the challenging binary that low-income students at elite colleges experience as part of what he called "the privileged poor."
When (and how much) to tip when is not always obvious! Get some help from Two Cents • PBS!
Why is money such a taboo topic? Actor, journalist and comedian Gaby Dunn goes personal with her personal finance journey.
https://to.pbs.org/2uz1jLW [via Amanpour and Company]
In the 1990s, Felipe Lopez was known as “the Dominican Michael Jordan” around Harlem, Washington Heights and the South Bronx. Hear him talk about the Dominican Dream on MetroFocus
Sonya could be an Emmy Award-winning social worker. It's not a profession everyone can handle, but it's her calling.
A part of our NY Emmy Award-nominated series "Getting Off the Streets": to.pbs.org/2GUOPp4
"The poor experience these two extremes — hypervisibility and invisibility — while often lacking the agency or resources to challenge unfair outcomes." [via The New York Times]
When someone who is living paycheck to paycheck falls victim to an online fraud or a breach, the cascade of repercussions can be devastating.
After nearly seven months in a homelessness rehab program, graduation day is full of highs and lows.
This episode of "Getting Off the Streets" is in contention to win a New York Emmy this Saturday in the category of Program of Societal Concern.
Bill is a man of family and faith. But a devastating loss led to a long battle with addiction. This is his second chance.
This episode of "Getting Off the Streets" is in contention to win a New York Emmy Award this Saturday!
Fifteen Chinese Americans, many of whom worked in factories in the garment industry, shared their stories with us. Happy May Day and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!
We Built New York: Honoring Chinese Workers Between the 1970s and the 1980s, a wave of Chinese workers immigrated to the United States, in hopes of building a better life for themselves and their children. The hardships they faced were challenging and unexpected. Using photographs and first person s...
![Whether you're hitting hard times or just trying to cut back, these lessons are key. [via Next Avenue]](https://img.medioq.com/2/safe_image.php?d=AQANMWkYmEaeFTod&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fwnet%2Fchasing-the-dream%2Ffiles%2F2019%2F03%2FSurviving-on-3-a-Day-and-Food-Stamps_74115325-750x485.jpg&_nc_hash=AQAR16AhwGkmsQnP)
Whether you're hitting hard times or just trying to cut back, these lessons are key. [via Next Avenue]
There are millions of older adults who are economically insecure with some either living at, or below, 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
This entrepreneur is bringing much-needed digital skills to people in rural Arkansas [via PBS NewsHour] #BriefButSpectacular
"Because of a string of moves by states and cities in recent years, the effective average is almost at $12 an hour." [via The New York Times]
Because of a string of moves by states and cities in recent years, the effective average is almost at $12 an hour.
Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, talks the recent college admissions scandal, the national teachers strike, and his thoughts on nationwide testing with Amanpour and Company.
Full conversation here: to.pbs.org/2Vn7q4Z
Happy Friday! If that doesn't get you in the mood to dance, this story will: https://to.pbs.org/2UCk7Vd [MetroFocus]
How has food insecurity changed in the Washington Heights area? Residents of the area tell our partners at MetroFocus https://to.pbs.org/2Gv2stM
TODAY! Tune in to Boss: The Black Experience in Business on your local PBS station or stream it at www.pbs.org/boss then join the Twitter Chat using #BossPBS
Black economic growth wasn't always rewarded. "BOSS: The Black Experience in Business" airs tomorrow night at 8|7c on PBS: pbs.org/wnet/boss/
[Thirteen WNET New York]
Arlan Hamilton was essentially homeless at one point before she founded the women and people of color-focused venture capital firm Backstage Capital: to.pbs.org/2WrmmfF
Yup. It's 4/20 today. But for a mother and her daughters, it's just another day havesting marijuana and growing their business.
Cash bail favors those who can afford it, often leaving low-income and minority people in jail for misdemeanor crimes. Can a new law change that? [via MetroFocus]
"We know that cannibis is going to be a money maker. It needs to be a money maker for those who have been disenfranchised by it" - Martissa Williams, a minority entrepreneur, looks at business opportunities within marijuana legalization.
![Where does a city near you fall on the list? [Watchdog News]](https://img.medioq.com/2/safe_image.php?d=AQDwynZn-JYXl32n&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com%2Fwatchdog.org%2Fcontent%2Ftncms%2Fassets%2Fv3%2Feditorial%2Fa%2Ff5%2Faf5dfa3e-1d58-11e8-afa6-03ad6bbe2ab2%2F5a98078a424a1.image.jpg%3Fresize%3D945%252C630&_nc_hash=AQD6TGcEQaSw45og)
Where does a city near you fall on the list? [Watchdog News]
Detroit and Cleveland are the country's neediest cities, according to an analysis of 180 U.S. cities by the consumer financial website WalletHub.
The college admission scandal exposed one extreme among the student population. But what about the low-income students at these elite schools?
Anthony Jack has witnessed the challenging binary that low-income students at elite colleges experience as part of what he called "the privileged poor."
Happy Tax Day? For the people who rely on the extra income of tax returns, this tax season was particularly rough.
A recent change in tax refund policy has derailed many taxpayers' financial plans -- and they have been anything but quiet about it.
Surprisingly, researchers found that the more aid a county receives from FEMA, the more inequality increases. [via PBS NewsHour]
A report from the Urban Institute shows that low-income Americans experience the biggest drop in their credit scores following “medium-sized” disasters.
It's National Pet Day so we're revisiting our favorite dog walker, Nadir. Did you have a pet growing up? to.pbs.org/2ULPxfZ
Some students are opting out of the college pipeline for lucrative opportunities *on* the pipeline. [via PBS NewsHour's Student Reporting Labs]
There are thousands of jobs in the oil and gas industry in West Virginia and the recent growth in natural gas pipeline construction is giving young West Virginians economic incentive to stay in the state. But as Student Reporting Labs' Alia King reports, some are concerned the boom will eventually c...
In addition to race, the wage gap for women also depends on the type of job -- and it’s probably exactly the opposite way you think. [via Next Avenue]
While the wage gap may not vanish anytime soon, there are steps that women, employers and the government could take to lessen the disparity.
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, Frances Perez-Rodriguez brings her lineage to an urban farming cooperative led by Black and Latina women of the South Bronx. [via Nexus Media News]
![The opportunity divide is especially visible from a bird's-eye view. [via National Geographic]](https://img.medioq.com/2/safe_image.php?d=AQA-GKtojUCEbnfj&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fcultureexploration%2F2019%2F03%2Funequal-scenes-from-above1%2F5_unequal-scenes---johannesburg-2.ngsversion.1553247003035.adapt.1900.1.jpg&_nc_hash=AQA529QZatLSS-Z8)
The opportunity divide is especially visible from a bird's-eye view. [via National Geographic]
Aerial pictures of adjoining neighborhoods reveal how cities around the world are unevenly developed.
Out of 895 slots to attend prestigious Stuyvesant High School, only 7 Black and 21 Hispanic #students were accepted. MetroFocus asks New York School Talk why:
These men are fighting addiction, poverty, and their pasts to get off the streets. Their story was nominated by The Webby Awards for Best Documentary Series. VOTE for their story here: wbby.co/vote-vid50
A change in how Social Security benefits are calculated can move 238,000 out of poverty in the next 30 years. [via Next Avenue] to.pbs.org/2VfFOvC
Is it time to change the program's cost-of-living adjustment formula?
These four men got a rare second chance at life. Now, their story has a chance to be recognized. VOTE at The Webby Awards: wbby.co/vote-vid50
Watch the series: to.pbs.org/2Up4FQs
Resilience in the face of discrimination. Can you name an African American entrepreneur that's inspired you? [Thirteen WNET New York]
With college tuition skyrocketing, trade or vocational school can be a lucrative alternative to a four-year degree. But which trades offer the most bang for your buck?
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When (and how much) to tip when is not always obvious! Get some help from Two Cents • PBS!
Sonya could be an Emmy Award-winning social worker. It's not a profession everyone can handle, but it's her calling. A part of our NY Emmy Award-nominated series "Getting Off the Streets": to.pbs.org/2GUOPp4
After nearly seven months in a homelessness rehab program, graduation day is full of highs and lows. This episode of "Getting Off the Streets" is in contention to win a New York Emmy this Saturday in the category of Program of Societal Concern.
Bill is a man of family and faith. But a devastating loss led to a long battle with addiction. This is his second chance. This episode of "Getting Off the Streets" is in contention to win a New York Emmy Award this Saturday!
Why is money such a taboo topic? Actor, journalist and comedian Gaby Dunn goes personal with her personal finance journey. https://to.pbs.org/2uz1jLW [via Amanpour and Company]
In the 1990s, Felipe Lopez was known as “the Dominican Michael Jordan” around Harlem, Washington Heights and the South Bronx. Hear him talk about the Dominican Dream on MetroFocus
This entrepreneur is bringing much-needed digital skills to people in rural Arkansas [via PBS NewsHour] #BriefButSpectacular
Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, talks the recent college admissions scandal, the national teachers strike, and his thoughts on nationwide testing with Amanpour and Company. Full conversation here: to.pbs.org/2Vn7q4Z
Happy Friday! If that doesn't get you in the mood to dance, this story will: https://to.pbs.org/2UCk7Vd [MetroFocus]
How has food insecurity changed in the Washington Heights area? Residents of the area tell our partners at MetroFocus https://to.pbs.org/2Gv2stM
TODAY! Tune in to Boss: The Black Experience in Business on your local PBS station or stream it at www.pbs.org/boss then join the Twitter Chat using #BossPBS
Arlan Hamilton was essentially homeless at one point before she founded the women and people of color-focused venture capital firm Backstage Capital: to.pbs.org/2WrmmfF
Yup. It's 4/20 today. But for a mother and her daughters, it's just another day havesting marijuana and growing their business.
Cash bail favors those who can afford it, often leaving low-income and minority people in jail for misdemeanor crimes. Can a new law change that? [via MetroFocus]
"We know that cannibis is going to be a money maker. It needs to be a money maker for those who have been disenfranchised by it" - Martissa Williams, a minority entrepreneur, looks at business opportunities within marijuana legalization.
It's National Pet Day so we're revisiting our favorite dog walker, Nadir. Did you have a pet growing up? to.pbs.org/2ULPxfZ
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, Frances Perez-Rodriguez brings her lineage to an urban farming cooperative led by Black and Latina women of the South Bronx. [via Nexus Media News]
Out of 895 slots to attend prestigious Stuyvesant High School, only 7 Black and 21 Hispanic #students were accepted. MetroFocus asks New York School Talk why:
These men are fighting addiction, poverty, and their pasts to get off the streets. Their story was nominated by The Webby Awards for Best Documentary Series. VOTE for their story here: wbby.co/vote-vid50
Resilience in the face of discrimination. Can you name an African American entrepreneur that's inspired you? [Thirteen WNET New York]
With college tuition skyrocketing, trade or vocational school can be a lucrative alternative to a four-year degree. But which trades offer the most bang for your buck?
Why is money such a taboo topic? Actor, journalist and comedian Gaby Dunn goes personal with her personal finance journey. https://to.pbs.org/2uz1jLW [via Amanpour and Company]
While the path from school to college to the job market seems like the surest ticket to the middle class, some students and experts vouch to forgo the college track and head straight to the workforce. [MetroFocus Student Reporting Labs]: to.pbs.org/2IWE3BS
Arlan Hamilton, founder of the women and people of color-focused venture capital firm Backstage Capital, was essentially homeless when she went to an accelerator bootcamp at Stanford University: to.pbs.org/2WrmmfF
How can healthcare be more accessible to homeless, immigrant and low-income communities? NYU Langone Health is trying to overcome these challenges. [via MetroFocus]
In the country of consumption, how can we center the worker in today's economy? Senior Fellow Oren Cass from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research breaks it down for us. [via MetroFocus]
For many young people, health insurance is a big expense that may seem unecessary... but is it smart to go without it? [via Two Cents • PBS]
An ambitious NYC housing program takes those with severe mental illness out of institutions and into private homes. This ProPublica/FRONTLINE film reveals how a lack of accountability leads to deadly outcomes.
Abraham Clemente, who has schizophrenia, was stuck in a troubled adult home until a 2014 federal court order gave him the option to live on his own. But the sudden shift to independence has not been easy. In an upcoming documentary, FRONTLINE and ProPublica explore where New York fails those living with mental illness. https://to.pbs.org/2KZjjXm
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, Frances Perez-Rodriguez brings her lineage to an urban farming cooperative led by Black and Latina women of the South Bronx. [via Nexus Media News]
For many people below the poverty line, some goods and services can actually be MORE expensive. Two Cents • PBS looks at why this happens
Did New York City lose out on economic growth by losing Amazon HQ2? MetroFocus talks to architect and former director of planning for Manhattan post-9/11 Vishaan Chakrabarti.
Many people and businesses no longer use cash, but for the 25 percent of New Yorkers who are “underbanked,” is this a form of bias against the poor? [MetroFocus] https://to.pbs.org/2TBp9kM
The reasons these men are homeless are common, but the second chance they're getting is rare. "Getting Off the Streets" is airing TONIGHT on Thirteen WNET New York @ 10:30pm
What does it take to get off the streets? These men spend six months trying to get out of homelessness … Watch their stories on Thirteen WNET New York Tuesday @ 10:30pm
These men are fighting addiction, poverty, and their pasts to get off the streets-- but in all wars, there are casualties. “Getting Off the Streets” is airing on Thirteen WNET New York on 12/11 at 10:30PM.
Follow three inspirational teens as they defy the odds to get themselves and their peers into college. On Thirteen WNET New York at 8PM.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone "Chasing the Dream" and to the people helping them achieve it. Many are thankful for Sonya Jacobs and her commitment to helping homeless individuals experiencing addiction [IHOC Interfaith Homeless Outreach Council]
For #EntrepreneursDay, we're highlighting everyday people who are their own boss and "Chasing the Dream." As a street food vendor, Walid Abdelwahab enjoys the freedom of working for himself, despite the obstacles that come with it.
How much of New Yorkers and lawmakers' concerns over Amazon HQ2 are legitimate? MetroFocus speaks to the Exec. Editor at Gotham Gazette.
Chicago the Musical on Broadway
219 W 49th StThe FSG Reading Series at Russian Samovar
256 W 52nd StCatch Me If You Can The Musical
250 W 52nd St
