Country Boys explores the boys’ stories offering valuable insights into some of the complex challenges common to most American teens: getting through school, figuring out love, forming an independent identity, and wanting to both belong and be different at the same time.

In coordination with the debut of Country Boys, WQPT has initiated a community campaign with these goals in mind:

Increase the number of adult mentors for at-risk youth

Support discussion and build awareness of how teens
can be nurtured

Connect teens and families to substance abuse prevention
and treatment

Strengthen partnerships between local organizations
to provide better access and support.

WQPT’s partners in this community campaign are: Arrowhead Ranch, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of the Quad Cities, the Academic Enhancement Department of Black Hawk College, Center for Alcohol & Drug Services (CADS), Family Resources and United Way.

Perspective, WQPT’s local public affairs program hosted by Susan McPeters, will feature representatives from these groups on December 23, 30 and January 6 to raise awareness about the challenges of growing up in a destructive environment.
“This is an opportunity for us to explore how circumstances influence behavior and choices, and how we can better support teenagers, especially boys, in this community,” said Ana Kehoe, WQPT Education Director.

WQPT will continue community outreach through the spring of 2006 with a dramatization produced by Lora Adams and performed by local teenagers, therapeutic dialogues facilitated by Family Resources, classroom discussions through Arrowhead Ranch and CADS, mentoring opportunities through Big Brother & Big Sisters, volunteering through Black Hawk College’s Academic Enhancement and information on local resources through United Way.

For further information on Country Boys outreach, please contact Ana Kehoe, Education Director for WQPT at kehoea@bhc.edu 309-796-2424.

Our Community Partners: