AKRON, Ohio — A state-of-the-art media lab that gives students a real world taste of the news business will be unveiled Wednesday at the I PROMISE School in Akron -- and the very first person to sit down for an interview was LeBron James.
James is back in his hometown to help unveil several new amenities at the I PROMISE School, including the Kaulig Companies Media Lab, an experiential learning center designed in collaboration with WKYC.
He also took part in a dedication ceremony for a new outdoor basketball court provided by 2K Foundations. For that part of the event, he was joined by his “Fab Five” former teammates from nearby St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
This is the second year for the I PROMISE School, a joint venture between Akron Public Schools and the LeBron James Family Foundation. It now serves 343 students in 3rd through 5th grades and provides an innovative, STEM-focused curriculum with hands-on learning experiences to some of the district’s most challenged students.
Inside the media lab, James took part in an interview with WKYC's Amani Abraham alongside Matt Kaulig, chairman of Kaulig Companies Limited, which sponsored construction of the fully equipped broadcast facility. The lab will provide students hands-on learning opportunities to report news and create content on both broadcast and digital platforms.
Matt Kaulig gave Amani a tour of the Kaulig Companies Media Lab.
I PROMISE School 5th grader Erialle Turner, a member of the school’s media club and aspiring media professional, also took a turn asking questions. You can watch that full interview in the player above.
Other new resources are being added to the school, including a Family Training Center to provide trauma-informed services to disruptive students, a Believers Bend wall of inspirational artwork and a remodeled Family Resource Wing that includes a laundromat.