National Celebrities Release Viral Video in Support of the Youth PROMISE Act

On May 26, 2010, supporters of the Youth PROMISE Act gathered at the Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C. to debut a “viral video” in support of evidence-based policies and practices that prevent and respond to youth involvement in criminal gang activity. The 90-second spot features a number of entertainment, sports and political celebrities – including Actress Robin Wright, CEO of Def Jam Records Russell Simmons, Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker and NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown – all explaining why they support passage of the Youth PROMISE Act. To view the video, click here.

First introduced in 2007, the Youth PROMISE Act is informed by more than thirty years of research and more than fifty criminal and juvenile justice experts about what works and what does not work to keep or move youth away from criminal gang activity. The House version, H.R. 1064, is originally sponsored by U.S. Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) and Michael Castle (R-DE), has 233 co-sponsors. The Senate cross-file, S. 435, is originally sponsored by U.S. Senators Robert “Bob” Casey (D-PA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and has 13 co-sponsors. The House version was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on December 2, 2009. The bill now awaits consideration by the House Education & Labor Committee.