FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEDRO SEVCEC AND LA SECTA ALLSTAR BAND PRESENT THE SECOND PHASE
OF THE “2 COOLTURA ERES TU” (YOUR CULTURE IS YOU) CAMPAIGN

TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND GANGS IN SPANISH YOUTH

• The efforts of the Self Reliance Foundation and Hispanic Communications Network focus on educating parents and providing strategies and useful information to prevent their teenage children from getting involved with gangs.
• The campaign will have the support of the country’s most important Hispanic media.

Washington, D.C. –  May 17, 2007 – Gang violence is still among the main problems faced by American society. The latest statistics of the Department of Justice’s Youth Gang National Survey shows that between 45% and 49% of all documented youth gang members are Hispanic. In its efforts to alleviate this social problem, the Self Reliance Foundation announced today the launching of the second phase of the “2 Cooltura Eres Tu” (Your Culture is You) campaign. This project serves as a meeting point for the community and sources of available help so that Hispanic parents have strategies and most useful information to help them keep their teenage children away from violence. This initiative is also supported by the Department of Justice and Hispanic Communications Network (HCN).

“2 Cooltura Eres Tu” seeks to reduce the number of Hispanic youths involved in gangs through the launching of a county-wide aggressive campaign disseminated through the most important Hispanic communication media. On this occasion the official spokesperson is Pedro Sevcec, the renowned journalist and anchor of Telemundo’s Noticiero Nacional who has participated in many similar activities. “A task like this one is the responsibility of not only every public speaker, but it is also the moral obligation of every citizen. This is why I am honored to participate in this campaign that I hope can help all Hispanic parents”, declared Sevcec. In addition to Sevcec, the music band La Secta AllStar, who also participated in the first phase of this initiative, will perform songs on related issues like “Consejo” and will share their first hand testimony about the dangers of belonging to a gang.

A report produced by the “Family Works” Extension of the University of Illinois argues that the role of parents in this struggle is more important than that of authorities and organizations involved in this issue. Because of this reason, “2 Cooltura Eres Tu” seeks to offer parents the necessary tools to help their children, like tips or information on community organizations where they can find support and aid, as well as ideas for after class activities for the children.

“2 Cooltura Eres Tu” has a clear and high impact message for Hispanic parents with important infromation that is easily accessed in both English and Spanish at www.2cooltura.com. Parents looking for assistance can also call the toll free help line at 1-800-473-3003.

The campaign with be reinforced through promotional articles on print, radio and television, including two TV public services announcements and six on radio. There will be an electronic information package available to journalists that will include interviews with former gang members and videos that may be used to compliment their TV stories. In the written pres, public service announcements will be disseminated through important partners that have joined the campaign, such as La Opinión of Los Ángeles, Fronteras of San José, La Voz de Phoenix, Al Día of Dallas, El Nuevo Herald of Miami, La Voz of Boston, El Diario La Prensa of Nueva York, La Raza of Chicago and national magazines Kena and Sobre Ruedas.

Organizations interested in joining “2 Cooltura Eres Tu” may send an e-mail to info@2cooltura.com.

About the Self Reliance Foundation:

The Self Reliance Foundation (SRF) helps Hispanics through the dissemination of practical information and easier access to community services through its toll free help line at 1-800-473-3003. The main goal of the SRF is to inform and inspire individuals and their families to take advantage of the opportunities for personal and community development in the areas of health, women’s issues, education, economic improvement, science, environmental protection and access to new technologies. The SLF has a bi-lingual 1-800 toll free help line available that connect the callers to more than 12,000 service providers in their local area, including community clinics, English a second language (ESL) programs, centers for the treatment of substance abuse, domestic violence shelters and other agencies. Founded in 1979, the Self Reliance Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization based in Washington DC.

About Hispanic Communications Network:

Hispanic Communications Network (HCN) is the largest provider of Spanish language informative and educational media in the United States. HCN uses Spanish based media platforms like the radio, print publications, television and the Internet to conduct social marketing integrated campaigns to inform and inspire the Hispanic population in the United States. HCN radio programs reach a weekly aggregate audience of almost 5 million listeners through over 240 radio stations, thus reaching 90% of the Hispanic population. Its weekly show “La Columna Vertebral” (The Backbone), which offers listeners advice on various topics, is distributed to over 100 Hispanic newspapers with a total weekly publication of over 3,500,000 copies throughout the country. Founded in 1982, HCN is headquartered in Washington DC. For additional information, please visit: www.hcnmedia.com

Press contacts:

For more information, requesting an interview with campaign representatives or to obtain copies of the public service announcements, please contact:

Claudia Santa Cruz                         Paola Marin

Tel. 305-220-8887                          Tel. 305-220-4296

csc@santacruzpr.com                     paola@santacruzpr.com

You may also visit www.2cooltura.com/press