MEDIA ADVISORY

PRESS CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 29TH TO ANNOUNCE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY AND DISTRICT GOVERNMENT REGIONAL PROACTIVE STANCE AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE

FATHER HELPS IMPLEMENT PROGRAM TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE ON 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF SON’S MURDER

ROOT, INC. OFFERS PROACTIVE "GUNS ASIDE/COMMUNITY IN ACTION” CAMPAIGN TO AID MARYLAND, WASHINGTON, DC AND VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES PLAGUED WITH GUN VIOLENCE


WHO: ROOT, Prince Georges County, Congreswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, the DC Government, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Greater Washington Boys and Girls Clubs, and No Murders DC will collaborate with community organizations, the media, WMATA, religious leaders, and individuals to implement the Guns Aside/Community in Action campaign to target at risk youth through a multi-media program aimed at reducing the level of youth homicides. The model is based on prevention research which has found that: An effective gun violence prevention program will be age-appropriate, culture competent, target the age groups most likely to commit gun violence, and make the support and participation of parents and all sectors of the community a priority. Guns Aside is part of a multi-disciplinary approach being implemented by ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together) that builds on relationships with business, law enforcement, community, religious leaders, and local government agencies. This program starts at the community level where effective interventions can produce results.

§ Kenneth E, Barnes, Sr., MS, CEO and Founder of ROOT

§ Gary Bellamy, Creator, Guns Aside

§ Neil Albert, Deputy Mayor, District of Columbia

§ Glenn Ivey, States Attorney, Prince George's County

§ Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congresswoman, District of Columbia

§ Kenneth Wainstein, US Attorney for the District of Columbia

§ Jim Graham, Adrian Fenty, and Vincent Orange, Councilmembers, District of Columbia

§ Charles Ramsey, Chief of Police, District of Columbia

§ Big G, Backyard Band and HBO Series, The Wire

§ Jerome Lee, Executive Director, NOBLE

§ Andre Jordan, Asst. Chief retired, US Park Police, DC Chapter NOBLE

§ Spencer Giles, Lt., Housing Authority Police, City of Baltimore and Past President, Maryland Chapter, NOBLE

§ Patricia Shannon, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington

§ David Bowers, No Murders DC

§ Rev Lennox Yearwood, National Grassroots Director, HipHop Summit Action Network

§ Alicia Horton, Director, Community Relations and Grassroots Initiatives, The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence

§ Les Butler, CEO & Chief Visionary Officer, BeHealthy Lifestyles

§ Rev Tony Lee, Youth Minister, Ebeneezer A.M.E. Church

§ Vernon Hawkins, Administrator, Union Temple Church

§ Rev Donald Isaac, East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership

§ Sandy Johnson, CO-Chapter Leader, DC Chapter, Parents of Murdered Children

§ EZ Street, Founder, CEO, Stop the Violence DC Network

§ Orlando Mullins, CEO Double O Entertainment

§ Franklin Tucker, President, Thompson, Epps, & Tucker

§ Tyrone Parker, Executive Director, Alliance of Concerned Men

§ Cornell Jones, Executive Director, Miracle Hands Community Dev. Corp

§ Rick Bailey, father and uncle of last victims slain in 2001

§ Rev Stephen Young, father of homicide victim and pastor, The Holy Christian Missionary Baptist Church for All People Homicide Ministry

§ Al Malik Farrakhan, father of homicide victim, founder and CEO, Cease Fire Don't Smoke the Brothers

§ Nate Williams, Boxing Information Center

§ Tony Duggins, Executive Director, North Capitol Community Collaborative

§ Tyrone Johnson, Universal Madness

§ Retta Morris, Executive Director, Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition

§ James Pearlstein, Facilitating Leadership in Youth

§ Orlando “:Big O” Mullins, Double O Entertainment

§ Jacques “Jock” Ross, CEO, Diamond Productions and Peace in the Street Project

§ Bobby Cato, Director of Business Development – Diamond Productions & Peace in the Street Project

§ Ann Brogioli, Social Worker, Hart Middle School and Hart Students

§ Marita Miichael, mother of Devin Fowlkes, slain Anacostia High School Student

§ Francine Lowe, mother of Miyesha Lowe, slain teenager

§ Lillian Macklin, Mother of Kenneth Green, murdered with friend Kisha Hunter on September 30

§ Whop Craig , Whop-N-EM

WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE to announce “Guns Aside” Campaign

WHEN: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 at 2:00 PM

WHERE: National Press Club - Holeman Lounge

529 14th Street, NW. Washington, DC 20045 (Tel. 202-662-7500)

WHY: The Washington DC Metropolitan Area has been the scene of tragedy after tragedy. Recent violent deaths of youths slain in drive by shootings escalated the homicide rate for youth under the age of 18 to 20, all ready 8 more than in 2003; and, the number of incidents involving gun violence continues to escalate at alarming proportions. Just this past weekend, 5 homicides and 4 people shot, including 16 year old teenage girl, in the DC Prince George’s County corridor. ROOT offers assistance to aid and abet the District Government, and the metropolitan area, in its search for solutions. The Guns Aside campaign will effectively intervene and help alter the mindset of today’s urban youth. Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS, CEO and Founder of ROOT emphatically states, “Too many lives are being lost; too many victims injured, and too many communities are being held hostage to this systemic and endemic tide of violence. As a government, and as a community, we must begin to offer proactive, rather than reactive, alternatives.” This event is being held on the 3rd Anniversary of Mr. Barnes son’s (Kenny Barnes, Jr.) senseless murder by a youth.

Priscilla or Don Clarke, Clarke & Associates, LLC, pclarkepr@aol.com, Tel. 202-723-2200 or visit http://www.clarkepr.com

http://www.rootinc.org/

###

Priscilla Clarke, PRESIDENT
Clarke & Associates, LLC
Publicizing and Entertaining "Your World"
2020 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 271
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. 202-723-2200, Fax. 202-723-4558
Website: www.CLARKEPR.com