PBS congratulates the dedicated staff of WVIZ / ideastream for its commitment to improving the lives of children in the communities of Northeast Ohio. The station was recently recognized by the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation as part of the organization’s annual Celebration of Service to America Awards.  

The Service to Children Awards spotlight television and radio stations for outstanding programs, campaigns and public service announcements produced for the benefit of children, and WVIZ/ ideastream was singled out for helping to generate solutions in Cleveland. This includes broadcasting 12 hours of PBS KIDS programming every weekday, and providing educational offerings to students, teachers and parents.

For example, in 2014, WVIZ continued its work in the Slavic Village neighborhood, one of the poorest and lowest achieving areas in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Along with community partners, the station focused a multi-media early literacy program there, working in classrooms and in the community, even transforming an area hospital clinic’s waiting room into a vibrant learning lab where volunteers teach parents to read to their children and use PBS KIDS educational apps.

In addition, as part of the station’s ongoing American Graduate work, all Slavic Village 8th graders attended a WVIZ/ ideastream conference at the station, where recent high school graduates inspired the younger students to continue their education, and Cleveland school executives spent time with the middle schoolers. The event culminated in a cap-and-gown ceremony.