Teens visit members of Congress to voice concerns on youth violence and education, July 14

July 14, 2011 (Washington D.C.)—Nearly 130 teens in World Vision's Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) from across the nation will visit a bipartisan group of their Congressional representatives this Thursday, July 14. The visits are the culmination of a 20-week training program focused on equipping and empowering youth to identify and address the most difficult social issues within their communities.

The cities participating include, but are not limited to Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Twin Cities, Seattle and Washington D.C. Many of these students have compelling stories to tell such as:

Twin Cities’ delegate Lucina Kayee grew up in West Africa and witnessed her brother’s abduction as he was taken away to become a child soldier. Once in America she’s spent time living in foster homes. Today, thanks in part to YEP, she’s planning to attend college.

Eighteen-year-old Gabby Ware graduated from Hyde Park Academy on Chicago’s south side this May. “I am the first person in my family to graduate from high school. I am headed to college in the fall with a scholarship and I know that education has saved me – prevented me from making choices that could have had negative consequences,” said Ware.

Sinnai Pedro has lived through the death of friends growing up in Pico Union, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Los Angeles where violence and gang threats are a daily occurrence. But she is upbeat and passionate, and excited to share her voice with her state’s congressional members.

Congressional Meeting Schedule
July 14, 2011

Delegation	Time	Office	Location
Albany, GA	10:30 AM 12:00 PM 2:30 PM	Rep. Sanford Bishop Sen. Saxby Chambliss Sen. Johnny Isakson	2429 Rayburn 416 Russell 131 Russell
Appalachia (West Virginia)	12:15 PM 2:15 PM 3:45 PM	Sen. John Rockefeller Sen. Joe Manchin Rep. David McKinley (Photo)	531 Hart 303 Hart 313 Cannon
Chicago	8:30 AM 10:00 AM 11:30 AM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:30 PM WALK IN	Sen. Mark Kirk/ Sen. Richard Durbin (Coffee) Meeting with Durbin Staffer- Erum Ibrahim Rep. Bobby Rush Meeting with Kirk Staffer- Andrew Adair Rep. Danny Davis Rep. Luis Gutierrez Rep. Jesse Jackson	Dirksen G-50 Hart 711 Rayburn 2268 Hart 524 2159 Rayburn 2266 Rayburn 2419 Rayburn
Los Angeles	10:00 AM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM	Sen. Barbara Boxer Rep. Xavier Becerra Sen. Dianne Feinstein Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard	112 Hart 1226 Longworth 331 Hart 2330 Rayburn
Dallas, TX	9:30 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:30 PM	Sen. Kay B. Hutchison (Coffee) Meeting with Hutchinson Staffer- Lucas Szabo Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Rep. Kenny Marchant Sen. John Cornyn	283 Russell 284 Russell 2468 Rayburn 1110 Longworth 517 Hart
New York (South Bronx)	9:30 AM 10:30 AM	Sen. Charles Schumer Rep. José Serrano	322 Hart 2227 Rayburn
New York (Washington Heights)	WALK IN WALK IN	Sen. Kristen Gillibrand Rep. Charles Rangel	478 Russell 2354 Rayburn
Twin Cities, MN	10:15 AM 11:15 AM 11:45 AM 2:30 PM 3:30 PM	Rep. Betty McCollum Rep. Erik Paulsen Rep. Keith Ellison Sen. Al Franken Sen. Amy Klobuchar	1714 Longworth 127 Cannon 1027 Longworth 309 Hart 302 Hart
Picayune, MS	11:00 AM 2:15 PM 3:30 PM	Sen. Thad Cochran Sen. Roger Wicker (Photo) Rep. Steven Palazzo	113 Dirksen 555 Dirksen 331 Cannon
Seattle	9:15 AM 4:00 PM	Rep. Jim McDermott Sen. Maria Cantwell	1035 Longworth 311 Hart
Tacoma	12:00 PM 2:00 PM	Rep. Norman Dicks Sen. Patty Murray	2467 Rayburn 448 Russell
Washington D.C.	11:00 AM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 4:00 PM WALK IN 2:00 PM 2:45 PM	Councilmember Harry Thomas Councilmember Yvette Alexander Councilmember Jim Graham Mayor Vincent Gray Councilmember Muriel Bowser Rep. Donna Edwards Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton	1350 Penn. Ave, NW Suite 107 Suite 400 Suite 105 Suite 307 Suite 110 318 Cannon 2136 Rayburn

About the Youth Empowerment Program
World Vision’s Youth Empowerment Program gives teens from 12 cities across the U.S. a chance to have their voices heard on both local and national levels. The teens complete a 20-week, in-depth local youth leadership and mentoring training series that allows teens to talk with their peers about the problems in each of their communities and come to a conclusion and solution for the problems to present to their respective government officials at the Youth Empowerment Summit.

About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor -- regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews