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Former NBA player hopes to change the game of education

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    Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson living 'Beyond the Dream'

  • Duration 3:41
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Well growing up for an America can present many problems for a child going to school to try to make it in life in some cases.

It can mean a lack of equal access to highly effective teachers and principals.

One former NBA player who's now serving as a politician is hoping to change the game of education.

To make it possible.

For all kids regardless of their background or race to get the kind of schooling that -- enable them to live their lives beyond the during.

Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento California.

Believes the time is now to issue a wake up call to address the state of education among youth in America.

Johnson says -- brutal facts are alarming schools are failing children.

Which is why he has launched a program called stand up for great schools.

It's his educational initiative to fight for kids to achieve a solid foundation school.

I that educational exposed -- -- right flew here.

He believes she can have a great city without great schools the time is now.

Would lose and our children.

If we have the faith community don't lead the way.

Been cool do we think.

Is going to lead the way Johnson helped organize -- faith leaders national education policy summit recently held in Atlanta Georgia.

He is urging faith leaders and even civil rights leaders in the African American community.

To mobilize their churches to help kids parents and teachers find solutions to the problems in education.

He says kids must come first we just have a crisis in our country in our public education system those.

Not doing well -- Childrens gonna take an entire community to say I'm -- enough.

Johnson wants a level the playing field for all children who operate from a disadvantaged.

Something he is all too familiar with.

-- group for the poor neighborhood in Sacramento -- park and the only way I've made it out of my community was basketball and I got a scholarship to UC Berkeley -- you know colleagues.

Johnson knows the meaning of competing and winning as an NBA player for the Phoenix Suns he enjoyed twelve years as one of the top players of the game.

-- his NBA career Johnson launched saint hope.

A nonprofit community development organization.

To revitalize inner city communities in his hometown of Sacramento.

I have any of my friends with me in college.

And they were on drugs.

-- -- in jail or did it.

Ever taken you know -- is difficult.

To not have people from your community succeeding and being successful in the only reason why I made it out of school sports I was going to be.

Doing something worthwhile in this world don't want to deal would give back in the atmosphere of education and to make sure -- can disrupt a very vicious cycle.

Johnson's educational initiative also provides help to students first.

And organization founded by his wife Michelle Rhee former chancellor of Washington DC's public school.

So we have that they -- millions of people across this country together who.

Understand that the public education system is broken they want to be a part of fixing it they know that children deserve more and -- willing to do something about it.

For us -- we we cut the chase it's about good education.

If you get rid of poverty if you -- get rid crime if you give you provide high access.

Access to high quality schools our kids will do well anybody who says kids certainly was -- -- they should be defined by their zip code or the color of their skin that's just hogwash education.

That is the great equalizer is the past -- It is the does the civil rights issue of our time.

-- -- agree with Kevin Johnson he's transforming children through education enabling them to become the best that they can be showing them how to be competitive.

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