For Immediate Release
Friday, May 29, 2009
America’s Promise Alliance to Host First-ever Impact Academy for Community Engagement
More than 150 Youth Will Join with Leaders from Business, Journalism and Politics to Discuss Challenges Facing Young People Today
WASHINGTON, DC—The America’s Promise Alliance (the Alliance) today announced it will hold its first-ever Impact Academy for Community Engagement May 30-June 1 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Maryland. The event will bring together more than 150 young people with leaders from the nonprofit, business, politics and journalism sectors to discuss the challenges facing children and youth today and how they can work with the different sectors to empower their peers and increase the nation’s high school graduation rate.
“We will never be able to turn the tide on the graduation crisis in this country if we don’t take the time to engage young people and their counsel as part of the solution,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, president and CEO, America’s Promise Alliance. “By bringing together this diverse group of young people with national leaders, we’ll be able to hear directly from our youth about what the biggest challenges are facing them and their peers and how we can better engage them in our work to increase graduation rates.”
The young people attending the Impact Academy for Community Engagement range in age from 16-23 and represent more than 40 organizations including the Alliance’s Impact Network Steering Committee (formerly known as the Youth Partnership Team), YouthBuild, Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Service America, City Year, Do Something!, and the National Youth Leadership Council.
During the two-day Academy, attendees will have an opportunity to hear from Alliance leadership including Chair Alma J. Powell and President and CEO Marguerite Kondracke on its Dropout Prevention Campaign and corresponding summits. In addition, David Walker, president of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a sponsor of the event, and former Comptroller General of the United States will speak with attendees about the nation’s current economic crisis and how financial responsibility is directly linked to their success. Other presenters and panelists include: the Discovery Channel’s Philippe Cousteau, CNBC reporter Rebecca Jarvis, Healthcliff Rothman, CEO of Film Your Issue and Yoni Gruskin, CEO of Concerned Youth of America.
Attendees will also participate in educational sessions and workshops on: using the arts to serve young people in need, community action and advocacy, career exploration, living healthy lifestyles and successful strategies for leveraging school-based programs to support your peers and community.
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About the America’s Promise Alliance
America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest partnership alliance comprised of corporations, nonprofit organizations, foundations, policymakers, advocacy and faith groups committed to ensuring that children receive the fundamental resources – the Five Promises – they need to lead successful, healthy and productive lives and build a stronger society. Building on the legacy of our founder General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes a child’s success is grounded in experiencing the Five Promises – caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others – at home, in school and in the community. For more information visit: www.americaspromise.org.