Linda Ellerbee and Nick News Follow Kids of Migrant Working Families in Their Journey Towards the American Dream

Linda Ellerbee and Nick News Follow Kids of Migrant Working Families in Their Journey Towards the American Dream

The Nick News Special Edition: Harvest of Hope Airs Sunday, Sept. 25, 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions have crossed the Mexico-United States border in search of the American dream which, for migrant families, may be less about freedom and democracy than it is about a job. And of the migrant workers in the United States right now, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands are kids. In a Nick News Special Edition: Harvest of Hope, award- winning journalist Linda Ellerbee provides a window into a world that few kids get to see: Ellerbee follows four kids from Mexican families who migrate across the United States for work and speaks to them about their journeys, hopes, dreams, and the reality of their everyday life. The special airs on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

"When looking at migrant workers we're looking at a reflection of all our families," said Ellerbee. "Their lives may be different, but their hopes are pretty much the same as everyone else's. This hope -- to be successful and live a good life -- that truly is the American dream."

Meet the Cardoza family from Mission, Texas. The Cardozas are about to leave Texas to travel to North Dakota to weed sugar beets from June to August. Mary Elen, 16 years old, Manuel, 15 years old, and Claudia 12 years old, all work with their parents in the fields. After working a 10-hour day, Mary Elen and Manuel attend school in Sidney, Montana for two hours every night. This summer will be Claudia's first time in the fields and while she is not looking forward to it, she understands that her family must work to survive.

Next, meet Rigoberto Arroyo, a third-generation migrant worker who lives in Eagle Pass, Texas and works on weekends even before school lets out for the summer. He started working in the fields when he was 11 years old but has traveled with his parents since he was three years old. Over the course of the summer, Rigoberto and his parents travel throughout the country to harvest onions. Although he is helping to support his family now with hard work, Rigoberto believes that education is the means to a better life.

Nick News also talks to Roger Rosenthal, executive director of the Migrant Legal Action Program and an advocate for migrant kids, and Raul Grijalva, a member of the U.S. Congress and son of a bracero. Roger discusses the history of migrant work in the United States and the specific challenges that migrant kids face such as the lack of access to education, the stress of constant movement and the physical dangers of farm work. Representative Grijalva talks about how educational opportunities for migrant children have improved over the past 20 years. This he believes is the key to them achieving their goals as adults.

Despite some of the difficult circumstances that these kids live with, they are eternally optimistic and believe that with hard work now, they will benefit later. Their families work this way so they will not have to in the future. It is within these children that we find the "harvest of hope."

Nick News, which is in its 14th year-the longest-running kids' news show in television history-has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. The program has covered the tough topics, including the Sept. 11 attacks, the Columbine tragedy, divorce, bullying, learning disorders, all the presidential elections since 1992, the Balkan war, the Iraq War, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and AIDS. In 1992, Ellerbee's special, "A Conversation with Magic," which featured Magic Johnson, set the standard for talking with kids about AIDS. In 1994, the entire series, Nick News, won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming. In 1998, "What Are You Staring At?" a program about kids with physical disabilities, won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming. In 2002, "Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan," won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming. In 2004, two Nick News Specials, "The Courage to Live: Kids, South Africa and AIDS" and "There's No Place Like Home," a special about homeless kids in America, were both nominated for the Outstanding Children's Programming Emmy. In fact, Nick News has received more than 20 Emmy nominations. Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is also the recipient of two Peabody Awards, including a personal one given to Ellerbee for her coverage of the President Clinton investigation; a Columbia duPont Award; and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.

Nickelodeon, now in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for more than nine consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, joanna.roses@nick.com, or Nancy Hostler, +1-212-846-7491, nancy.hostler@nick.com, both of Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

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