Children Uniting Nations, Russell Simmons, Mos Def, David Archuleta, Terrence Howard, Gabrielle Union, Vivica Fox, Elise Neal, and Shawn King - Visit Nation's Capitol to Promote Student Mentoring and Change for Child Welfare
June 9th Set for Fourth Annual National Conference with Key Legislators, Policy Makers and Celebrities Dedicated to Making a Difference For Country's At Risk Youth
LOS ANGELES and WASHINGTON, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Children Uniting Nations (CUN), one of the premier non-profit organizations working with at-risk and foster youth in partnership with Russell Simmons' "Hip Hop Summit Action Network" announces celebrities and legislators lending their voice the children in need at the 4th Annual "Keeping the Promise to our Children" conference in Washington DC. Set for June 9th. Celebrities including Terrance Howard, David Archuleta, Gabrielle Union, Shawn King, Kristen Bell, Vivica Fox, Mos Def, Catherine Dent and many more, will join key legislators in a morning press conference held at the House Capitol Building with panel discussions following in the famous Woodrow Wilson Plaza located in the Ronald Reagan Building and an evening gala at the State Department. The press conference will be presided over by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.
This years panel discussions include key youth issues such as, "Student Loan Forgiveness in Exchange for Academic Mentoring of Foster Children," "Physical Health, Nutrition and Obesity in Youth," "Drugs & Drug Trafficking," "Mental Heath and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," " Impact of AIDS and HIV on African American Community," and "The Impact of Economic Decline on the Future of Our Children."
This year's confirmed political leaders include Congresswoman Bachmann, Congresswoman Diane Watson, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Howard Berman, Congressman Joseph Crowley, Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Mary Landrieu, Honorable Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Evan Bayh, Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Christopher Dodd, Congressman Ed Markey, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congresswoman Laura Richardson and Congressman Dennis Cordoza.
In the year since the last conference, Children Uniting Nations has seen significant legislative achievements in support of mentoring for at-risk children. An amendment to provide loan forgiveness to community college students who mentor at-risk youth in their communities was passed by the House as part of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act in 2008, and an amendment to support the mentoring of children in foster care was passed unanimously in the Senate as part of the recent Serve America Act (2009). CUN looks forward to building upon these successes in the coming legislative session.
Children Uniting Nations Chairwoman Daphna Ziman remarked, "We are proud to have such amazing legislative support and incredible talent attending this years conference along with top university researchers and foundations assembled together in the effort of helping us raise awareness to the needs of our nations at risk youth and assist us in lending a voice to the voiceless children." Russell Simmons, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, emphasized, "Children Uniting Nations is one of the most effective organizations of our time and our partnership will help to raise public awareness about the key public policy issues that are focused on empowering children to have a better quality of life. The "Keeping the Promise to our Children" Conference in Washington on June 9, 2009 will enable more people to make a real difference on these important issues."
