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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
ACF Announces 2005 National Youth Summit
HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) today announced the fourth annual National Youth Summit. The event, entitled “To Celebrate Youth in Action – Making a Difference,” will take place in Washington, D.C. from July 28 to 30 and is expected to attract over 800 people who will celebrate how America’s youth are making a positive difference in their families, schools and communities.
“The Bush Administration is committed to helping young Americans and their families create healthier, safer and stronger communities,” said HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. “The 2005 National Youth Summit is an important forum to promote positive youth development, encourage greater community involvement and serves to highlight the work being done to improve our future through America’s youth.”
In addition to youth-driven workshops on public policy, community, creativity and the economy, youth will be guided by an action planning journal to lay out the next steps for making community youth projects a reality.
Other highlights of the event include:
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A keynote address by Alma Powell, chairperson of America’s Promise - The Alliance for Youth;
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Remarks by Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., HHS assistant secretary for children and families;
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Research presentations exploring ways to help youth make healthy choices.
For the first time this year, the summit includes onsite community projects including a “Gift of Art” created from a 500-person assembly line which will be sent to youth in Iraq. In addition, there will be a “Cares & Shares” quarter-drive competition for charity. Entertainment includes youth performers ranging from jazz ensembles and choirs to Caribbean steel drums.
“The Bush Administration knows how important it is to empower youth so they can be fully engaged in their schools and communities and positive about their future,” said Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., HHS assistant secretary for children and families. “This three-day event to promote positive youth development is an important step toward achieving that goal.”
The 2005 National Youth Summit is planned by the Family and Youth Services Bureau at ACF in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Justice and Labor.
For more information, including the complete agenda of this year’s summit, go to www.ncfy.com.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news