CNN's Black in America II showcased Hartford's Capitol Prep

Just finished watching CNN's Black in America II with Soledad O'Brien. The show was amazing, heart breaking and inspirational all at the same time. One aspect of the show that should bring hope to many throughout Hartford and around the country was the story of Hartford's own Capitol Preparatory Magnet School at 950 Main Street (G. Fox) in downtown Hartford.

Black in America dedicated more then 30 minutes to showing how Capitol Prep thanks to its founder and principal Dr. Steve Perry is making dreams a reality for a special bunch of students. The school has been open for 4 years and is not like any other public, private or magnet school out there - which is why it works so well. The school is designed as a college-preparatory school where students go to school year round as well as on Saturday's. For just 30 openings the school received 2,000 applications from 22 towns showing the competition to get in is high. That is because, as the principal and Soledad O'Brien both pointed out 100% of students who graduate from the school go on to 4 year colleges or universities.

The school has been named one of America's Best High Schools by US News and World Reports and the State of CT's most improved middle school.

Black in America showed the story of how Dr. Perry rose from growing up in the projects where he was kicked out of preschool to becoming the founder and principal of this prestigious school. Dr. Perry can be seeing rising at dawn and picking students up in his own car to bring them to school. He can also be seen greeting students on Main Street every morning as they head in to school. He makes sure everyone is in the proper uniform and he even serves as the proper parent figure many children lack.

This is truly an amazingly inspirational piece and I wonder how great the success rate would be if more students were brought into the Capitol Prep system of education. Students in Hartford have great potential that cannot be underestimated and it is people like Dr. Perry and every teacher at Capitol Prep who are bringing this potential into the light.

The only thing CNN left out was that by Fall, 2010 (hopefully) Capitol Prep will have moved down the block into bigger quarters at the old Barnard Brown School which is still within walking distance of Capitol Community College so Capitol Prep students can still take classes there.

I strongly urge everyone to find Black on America Part II online somewhere or on ITunes or Amazon and watch it. Even if it costs money, it is worth it, trust me.