“I WILL GRADUATE” Day popped off without a hitch as 11,000 eager students from 179 New York City schools gathered at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to celebrate their commitment to education on Oct. 24.
I WILL GRADUATE is a nonprofit co-founded and led by former music industry Roc-A-Fella Records executive and gospel singer Tonya Lewis Taylor. It was established in 2008. The 7-12th grade students who attended the celebration voluntarily participated in a 6-week curriculum, called ‘Get Focused, Stay Focused,’ that IWG donated to hundreds of schools. The curriculum Taylor uses addresses social and mental health issues, provides entrepreneurial workshops, and highlights gun violence awareness.
“It’s no surprise that scores have dropped. They are really reflective of what has happened during the pandemic,” said Schools Chancellor David Banks at the event. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Banks said that he’s committed to closing the racial disparities in the city’s education system that existed prior to the pandemic, making sure children learn how to read by the 3rd grade, and that even beyond graduation students have a plethora of opportunities to pursue.
Attendees included Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, NLE Choppa, Sean “Arnstar” Kirkland, Fivio Foreign, and Life Camp Founder Erica Ford as well as countless others.