Back to Madison Heights & Lifelines
Pricing
Madison Heights School - a K-8 School with an after-school program - links this anthology of dramatic programs. Each of the ten 1/2 hour dramatic episodes focuses on one or more families struggling to overcome adversity with courage, dignity and hope. Closely integrated Worktexts provide a rich variety of activities to promote critical thinking skills; help the adult learners improve their ability to read, write and speak; and provide experiences that empower adults in their roles as parent, worker and member of the community. User-friendly Teacher's Resource Books provide tools and techniques for getting the most out of every unit - whether taught at a distance, or in tutorial, small and large group settings.
For Public Libraries, the videos can stand alone
Click HERE to view an entire DVD from this series.
(requires Windows Media Player 9 or higher - Download Windows Media Player 9)
Episode 1: “The Ties That Bind”
Follows the Garcia family as it attempts to recover from the devastating loss of its eldest son. The impact is greatest on younger brother Ricky, who had been an excellent student, but recently has done poorly in school. Meanwhile, Ricky’s teacher, David Harper, is struggling with his own problems. His father has just died, and his relationship with his mother is difficult at best. At first, Harper is impatient with Ricky’s apparent lack of effort. But when he comes to understand what is causing it, his attitude changes, not only towards Ricky but towards his own mother.
Episode 2: “Running Scared”
Deals with the impact of a family’s decision not to vaccinate their child on a community and on a friendship. Amy Tran, an Asian-American, has been friends since high school with Charlene Miller. But in light of her brother’s severe reaction to a pertussis vaccine years earlier, Amy decides not to have her own son vaccinated when he and Charlene’s son start kindergarten. Charlene’s husband is outraged, particularly because of a recent outbreak of pertussis in Madison Heights. Arguing that Amy’s decision is subjecting other children to unnecessary risks, he leads a protest against the Tran family that culminates in a dramatic confrontation between himself and the Trans.
Episode 3: “A Day in the Life”
Follows an unemployed African-American woman named Roberta through a long day of frustration and despair. Despite her best efforts, Roberta’s attempts to find work lead nowhere. As she struggles through the day, Roberta endures a variety of trying and de-humanizing experiences. Towards the end of the episode, we learn that Roberta is the single parent of a young son, whom she is desperately trying to shield from the harsh realities of a life lived in poverty.
Episode 4: “Homeward Bound”
The story of a father and his adult son who attempt to come to terms with each other after several years of estrangement. When Stan Radzinski has a stroke, his son Tom, feels he has no choice but to leave his own wife and son behind, and fly across the country to care for his ailing father. During the course of their time together, they finally deal with a devastating family tragedy that took place years before – a tragedy that lead to the enormous chasm between them.
Episode 5: “Street Smart”
Looks at the impact of gang life on two brothers, Omar and Ramon Vasquez. As a result of a crime committed during his brief affiliation with a gang, twelve year old Omar is sentenced to six years in a juvenile detention facility. When he is finally released, Omar tries to get his life back on track, but faces a variety of serious obstacles that stand in his way. At the same time, he discovers that his younger brother (Ramon) has also been seduced by the lure of gang life. Ultimately, Omar must not only convince himself to persevere, but must also persuade his brother to renounce life in a gang, continue his schooling and develop his natural talent as an artist.
Episode 6: “Miracle Workers (parts I and II)”
Looks at a collision of cultures played out against the backdrop of the U.S. medical system. When five year old Maria is brought to the hospital by her non-English speaking Hispanic parents, the child is in serious need of medical attention. Her parents resist, however, because they are more comfortable having her treated by a “curandero,” or spiritual healer. Maria’s American doctor, Phillip Hansen, views the curandero’s efforts as useless or even worse, because, in his view, they are preventing Maria from getting the care she needs. While trying to cope with Maria’s deteriorating medical condition, the driven Dr. Hansen must also deal with his crumbling marriage and generally dysfunctional family. But it’s when his father suffers a life-threatening injury and lay near death in a comatose state that Hansen finally comes to terms with the man he’s become, and vows to do whatever is necessary to put his life back in order.
Episode 7: “God Bless the Child”
The story of two desperate characters whose lives intersect. Kevin McCauley is a ten year old boy who lives with his mother and her abusive boyfriend, and struggles in school with a learning disability. Mr. Jenkins is the school janitor who, despite his own battle with growing dementia, teaches Kevin to read. Although each of them faces formidable obstacles, Kevin and Jenkins manage to reach each other in a way that is both touching and life-affirming.
Episode 8: “Echoes”
Traces the efforts of Susan Gennaro, a woman who has recently been released from prison after six and a half years of incarceration, as she attempts to re-build a relationship with her ten year old daughter, Katie. During the course of the story, Katie must confront a variety of painful truths, including the fact that her mother is a recovering alcoholic who served time because of a fatal auto accident caused by her drinking.
Episode 9: “Small World”
Eleven year old Maria Betancourt is trying to fit in at school, after she and her family have recently moved to Madison Heights. She is so desperate not to appear “different” from other students that she doesn’t let on about her family’s South American origins. She even goes so far as to tell everyone her name is actually Mary. But when her aunt from Colombia comes to stay with the Betancourts for several weeks, Maria’s deception slowly begins to unravel. Eventually, she must come to terms with her own identity and accept her family’s history.
Over 5 million dollars and the collaboration of nine states
facilitated the production of Madison Heights and Lifelines.
Madison Heights Pricing - on DVD
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Campus Digital Delivery Rights Pricing
Donor states: Florida, California, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina, please call for special pricing.
To Order, Contact:
Video Resources Software
1-888-223-6284
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Miami, FL 33156
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