the Push
highlights from the film
about the film
The Push follows the inspirational relationship between Darrell Smith, a caring Communities In Schools® (CIS®) site coordinator, and Ja-Mez, who is about to graduate from high school full of self-confidence and with the promise of a bright future — an event that seemed impossible just two years earlier. The moving film provides an inside look at one of the many stories unfolding in thousands of CIS schools across America.
meet the cast
Ja-Mez
Ja-Mez is a recent graduate of Stone Mountain High School. During high school he enjoyed playing football, working at a roller skating rink, and serving as a mentor to other students facing challenges in school. With the help of CIS and Mr. Smith, Ja-Mez is on the path to a bright future. Read the rest of Ja-Mez's story here.
Believe in yourself, believe in the people who are helping you, and you will definitely succeed.
Darrell Smith
Darrell Smith is a CIS of Atlanta site coordinator at Stone Mountain High School. As a Dekalb County resident for the past 20 years, Smith is passionate about the community. His goal is to help deter students from making the same mistakes he did and provide families with a vision to overcome the challenges they face.
Every day I'm coming in trying to plant seeds, and I don't know when they're going to grow. At CIS, we're all in to help kids be successful.
from the filmmaker
Daniel Stine
Rising Act Films was founded in 2019 by Daniel Stine, an award-winning independent filmmaker whose films have garnered over 40 awards in multiple categories at film festivals across the U.S. According to Stine, “The Push was an incredibly rewarding project for Rising Act Films. I feel very fortunate to have worked with Darrell and Ja-Mez—a site coordinator and a student who delivered in a way that was emblematic of everything Communities In Schools is about. Not only were they compelling to watch on screen, but to collaborate with—to learn from, to laugh with, to be around.”
support Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Our Founder Bill Milliken once said, “It's relationships, not programs, that change children.” CIS site coordinators meet students where they are in life. They build relationships with them to provide support and access to critical resources to eliminate barriers on their path to success. In everything we do, we are building a powerful change movement committed to shaping an equitable path to education for future generations. Join us.
