Can I Kick It?

• Pam Shaw
  
  Air date 10/22/12
  Episode #
  Public interest lobbyist
• June Hardwick
  
  Air date 10/15/12
  Episode #
  Activist and attorney
• Davetta Cook Lee and Jonathan Lee
  
  Air date 9/11/12
  Episode #
  Attorney in Mississippi and the Executive Director for the Access to Justice Commission; owner of Mississippi Products, Inc.
• Chokwe Lumumba
  
  Air date 9/24/12
  Episode #
  Attorney, city councilman and leader of the New Afrikan People’s Organization
• Jason Pyinfamous Thompson
  
  Air date 8/13/12
  Episode #
  MC and Co-Owner of Fahrenheit Creative Group and 106 Lounge
• Big K.R.I.T.
  
  Air date 8/6/12
  Episode #
  Def Jam recording artist
• Geraldine Brookins
  
  Air date 7/30/12
  Episode #
  President of a management consulting firm and psychologist
• Skipp
  
  Air date 7/23/12
  Episode #
  Jackson-born artist Skipp
• Gloria Dickerson
  
  Air date 7/18/12
  Episode #
  Founder and CEO of We Come Together Creating Change

Season 1

Andy Hardwick is a renowned jazz musician out of Vicksburg Mississippi. He's been playing since the age of 14. He's a regular fixture on the jazz music scene. Hardwick has managed to balance supporting his family and satisfying his passion for music.

Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin is a rap artist, activist and entrepreneur.  Host of JSU TV23's Direct Line and Co-host of The Edge.

C. Leigh McInnis is an instructor of English at Jackson State University, the publisher and editor of Black Magnolias Literary Journal, and the author of seven books, including four collections of poetry, one collection of short fiction and one work of literary criticism.

Dr. Freda Bush is an obstetrician/gynecologist in Jackson, MS. She has delivered over 10,000 babies.

Jeff Marshall dropped out of high school just months before graduation. He resently returned to get his GED and is now working as a front end manager at IHOP. Jeff is also a community theather actor.

Nsombi Lambright is the executive director of the Americian Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, community activist and mother.

Rob Jay is the sports director at WLBT, host of an afternoon show on WKXI, Southern Soul Radio on the internet, and  JSU's play-by-play man for basketball and football.

Season 2

Watch us on YouTube for new episodes every Monday.

AkilBakari - Community activist, organizer and entrepreneur AkilBakari realized his potential in high school and went to college upon graduation. Holding a degree in Information Technology, he now owns his own technology company and firmly believes in the necessity of completing high school.

Antonio Wright - As a football player at the age of 22, Antonio Wright's life changed when a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. He has since gone on to develop programs that promote community empowerment through wheelchair sports and recreation, youth mentoring and advocating for people with disabilities.

Big K.R.I.T. - Although Def Jam recording artist Big K.R.I.T. started his career as a teenager, he decided early on he was going to finish school. It was during high school that he discovered his passion for music, a factor that would only fuel his desire to graduate and begin a successful career.

Chokwe Lumumba - Chokwe Lumumba is an attorney, city councilman and leader of the New Afrikan People’s Organization.

Davetta Cook Lee and Johnathan Lee - Davetta serves as an attorney in Mississippi and the Executive Director for the Access to Justice Commission. Johnathan is the owner of Mississippi Products, Inc. Both believe that the first step in achieving your goals is to get a high school diploma and that it is possible to rise above your circumstances and find what you are meant to do.

Geraldine Brookins - Geraldine Brookins serves as president of Changing Dynamics, a management consulting firm in Jackson, Miss. Two weeks before her high school graduation, Geraldine’s mother passed away and she had to take care of her younger brother and sister. Now a psychologist in the Jackson area, she encourages young people to graduate from high school and not let challenges deter them from finishing.

Gloria Dickerson - Gloria Dickerson is the founder and CEO of “We Together Creating Change,” an organization committed to making sure children are successful. Growing up in poverty in the Delta in the 1960s, Gloria was considered an “at risk” student and determined to overcome her circumstances and have a better life. She credits her education with helping her find success in life.

Jason Pyimfamous Thompson - Jason is an MC as well as a Co-Owner of Ferinheight Creative Group & 106 Lounge. Growing up in a very poor area, it was difficult for him to see himself succeeding. He saw many of his peers drop out of school but was encouraged by his family to stay. He believes that education will open many doors and give young people the power to change their circumstances in life.

Skipp - Jackson-born artist Skipp barely graduated high school with a 1.4 grade point average. After a push from his mother, he enrolled in college and began to realize his abilities. He explains that education “separates average men from great ones.”

Flash Festival

Are you interested in making movies? Do you have a story or ideas that you would like to share with the world? Are you interested in graduating from high school and encouraging your friends do the same? If so, join the Can I Kick It? Crew for an action-packed weekend of film-making fun.

MPB and the Crew are gearing up for the 2013 American Graduate Student Film Festival and we need your help!

Learn more and APPLY NOW!