Kyshun Webster: Reaching for Greatness

From: American Public Media
Series: The Promised Land
Length: 54:00

Dr. Kyshun Webster is a man who gets things done. And before that, he was a kid who got things done. Now the founder and executive director of Operation Reach, an extensive family of programs for kids throughout the Gulf South, Kyshun has been working to improve his community since he was a kid himself. Majora joins Kyshun as he returns to his childhood roots to explain the inspiration for his 20 years of inspiring youth to greatness. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Promos

Playing: Kyshun Webster: Reaching for Greatness
From: American Public Media

1_small Kyshun grew up in the St. Bernard Projects in New Orleans where, at the age of six, he saw his uncle murdered. He started struggling in school and was held back in the first grade. Thus began a lifelong makeover for Kyshun, who now holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. At the age of 12, he started a lending library out of his parents' garage, which grew into a "home for homework" after-school tutoring program.

He fought back to transform his own life and now inspires the lives of other disadvantaged youth. And because of the endless need among neighborhood kids and Kyshun’s sheer determination, he now oversees what he calls a “cradle to career” program for youth that extends to three states in the Gulf South. Kyshun's Operation Reach runs (to name a few) a full-time child development center; the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project, where kids recycle cooking oil for use as environmentally friendly fuel; and the Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps, with camps that teach young people philanthropic skills. The kids annually award $50,000 in grants to other youth-lead projects.

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Piece Description

Kyshun grew up in the St. Bernard Projects in New Orleans where, at the age of six, he saw his uncle murdered. He started struggling in school and was held back in the first grade. Thus began a lifelong makeover for Kyshun, who now holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. At the age of 12, he started a lending library out of his parents' garage, which grew into a "home for homework" after-school tutoring program.

He fought back to transform his own life and now inspires the lives of other disadvantaged youth. And because of the endless need among neighborhood kids and Kyshun’s sheer determination, he now oversees what he calls a “cradle to career” program for youth that extends to three states in the Gulf South. Kyshun's Operation Reach runs (to name a few) a full-time child development center; the Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project, where kids recycle cooking oil for use as environmentally friendly fuel; and the Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps, with camps that teach young people philanthropic skills. The kids annually award $50,000 in grants to other youth-lead projects.

Timing and Cues

The Promised Land
Episode: Kyshun Webster
TRT 59:00

* Breaks: Two 1:00 minute Station ID Breaks. There is music under the break. *

Billboard: 00:00 - 1:00
Incue: Hi, I'm Majora Carter. Coming up on the Promised Land, you'll meet a true visionary leader who's been...
Outcue:…Dr. Kyshun Webster, coming up on this edition of The Promised Land, Voices from the Gulf Coast from APM, American Public Media.

News break hole 01:00 - 06:00

Seg A: 06:00 - 22:58
Incue: I'm Majora Carter. Welcome back to The Promised Land from APM, American Public Media. Our series on voices from the Gulf Coast features…
Outcue:..I'm Majora Carter and you're listening to The Promised Land from APM.

Break One: 22:58 - 23:58

Seg B: 23:58 - 39:48
Incue: I'm Majora Carter and this is The Promised Land. Our series, Voices from the Gulf Coast, spotlights visionaries building hope...
Outcue:…I'm Majora Carter and you're listening to the Promised Land from APM.

Break Two: 39:48 - 40:48

Seg C: 40:48 - 59:00
Incue: I'm Majora Carter. Welcome back to The Promised Land. Our series, Voices from the Gulf Coast, spotlights visionaries who are improving lives…
Outcue:…values that contribute to a healthy planet. This is APM, American Public Media.