Tõnya Lewis Taylor, founder of the I Will Graduate program, joins “In Focus” to discuss how the youth development program connects students, parents and educators in more than 300 schools and communities. Students who drop out of high school are more likely to earn less, be incarcerated and rely on social services.

The program connects them to valuable resources and opportunities to help them overcome challenges and achieve personal success. 1.2 million students drop out of school every year or one every 26 seconds.

She also talks about their 8-week program for middle and high school students to combat gun violence in their communities and the importance of interrupting the cycle of retaliatory violence.

Taylor shares how she’s incorporating celebrities to inspire kids to find their own roadmap to success.