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Statement from Marguerite W. Sallee, President and CEO of America’s Promise -- The Alliance for Youth


WEBWIRE

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Following is a statement from Marguerite W. Sallee, president and CEO of America’s Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, on the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics report, “America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2005”

"The Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics report provides strong evidence that important areas in the lives of our nation’s children are improving. More young children are reading, more older children are proficient in the Three R’s and more infants are receiving timely immunizations that help ensure they are receiving a healthy start to their lives.

"However, the report also shows that we still have a great deal of work to do when it comes to helping more children achieve their American Dreams. Too many of our young people are crime victims, are living in poverty or taking drugs. Many of our young people are leaving high school ill-prepared to join a 21st Century workforce and the hyper-competitive global economy.

"The reported data complement the results of a nationwide poll America’s Promise conducted earlier this year through Harris Interactive. Over 1,200 young people aged 10-17 told us that while they had a great deal of optimism about their futures, they also had serious concerns about achieving their goals, what we are calling the American Dream Gap. 95 percent of the children responded stated they had goals they wanted to reach in life but 42 percent told us they did not know if they will be able to reach their goals, mostly because of a lack of resources and opportunities available to them. (The complete Voices Study can found at http://www.americaspromise.org/media/speakout.cfm).

“The Forum’s report provides an excellent and revealing look into the state of America’s young people. While its ”Big Picture“ shows great improvements for our children, it also demonstrates the need for our nation to dedicate itself to helping many children bridge the American Dream Gap. We need to fulfill our promise to the next generation by giving every child the attention and resources each needs and deserves to succeed.”

To speak with Sallee or for more information about America’s Promise-The Alliance for Youth, please contact Mike McGill at (703) 535-3819 or mikem@americaspromise.org.

About America’s Promise -- The Alliance for Youth:

America’s Promise is a broad-based Alliance whose members work together to ensure that all young people can realize their full potential.

Alliance partners focus attention and resources to help every child receive the Five Promises essential to success: caring adults who are actively involved in their lives; safe places in which to learn and grow; a healthy start toward adulthood; an effective education that builds marketable skills; and opportunities to help others. Founded by retired General Colin L. Powell, the America’s Promise Alliance includes nonprofit, corporate and community groups as well as individuals across the nation. Alma J. Powell currently serves as chair. Among the founding partners are the Corporation for National and Community Service, Points of Light Foundation, The United Way of America, Communities in Schools and MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.

America’s Promise grew out of the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997, where Presidents Bush, Carter, Clinton and Ford, with Nancy Reagan representing President Reagan, challenged the country to make children and youth a national priority. President George W. Bush affirmed his commitment in 2001.



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