Model Press Release

(On your organization’s letterhead)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

   Contact: (Your Name)

  (Your phone number)

(YOUR COMMUNITY) CITIZENS MEET WITH (YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS) TO SUPPORT THE YOUNGER AMERICANS ACT

Community activists lobby to give all youth access to competency and character development

(YOUR CITY AND STATE), (DATE) - As part of a campaign to give all young people the resources they need to be successful in life, leaders from (your community or organization) today met with (member of congress) to support the Younger Americans Act (H.R. 17/S. 1005), a new bill before Congress that authorizes funds to promote youth development through community resources. It is modeled on the existing Older Americans Act, which provides a nationwide network of support for senior populations.

"We are making our case that now is the time to invest in our nation’s youth. For years, billions have been spent on programs which take a deficit-based approach to young people," said (Name) of (your community or organization). "Instead, let’s pass the Younger Americans Act that focuses on the positive development of young people and gives all of our children access to a promising future."

The group's meeting is part of a larger effort to pass the legislation. To date, more than 60 youth-concerned national organizations support the Younger Americans Act, including the National Collaboration for Youth, Untied Way, and America’s Promise - The Alliance for Youth, formerly chaired by General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret). Young people also are taking a major leadership role in advocating the legislation.The Younger Americans Act, with appropriated funds, will mobilize communities to assure all youth have access to the character and competency development needed to be fully prepared adults and productive citizens. The Act creates a comprehensive national youth policy to link and expand community-based programs created by existing youth-service providers, local governments, schools, faith-based organizations and businesses to ensure all young people have access to: ongoing relationships with caring adults; safe places with structured activities during non-school hours; health and mental health; marketable skills and competencies through education and youth development; and opportunities to give back through community service and civic participation.

"Investing in young people today - through the Younger Americans Act - ensures that  our nation will prepare the next generation to lead it into the new millennium," concluded (name).