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Vivica A. Fox, Kristin Bell, David Archuleta in town for children's conference
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Vivica A. Fox
Vivica A. Fox, host of TV Land's "The Cougar," will join other television stars, celebrities and key legislators in town for tomorrow's 4th Annual "Keeping the Promise to our Children" conference, an event designed to promote student mentoring and change for child welfare.
The gathering is being presented by Children Uniting Nations (CUN), a non-profit organization working with at-risk and foster youth, in partnership with the Hip Hop Summit Action Network founded by Russell Simmons, an executive producer of HBO's recent series "Russell Simmons presents Brave New Voices."
Other TV notables scheduled to attend are 2008 "American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta, "Veronica Mars" vet Kristen Bell, Catherine Dent from FX's critically-acclaimed drama "The Shield" and Gabrielle Union of ABC's short-lived 2005 series "Night Stalker."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will preside over a morning press conference at the House Capitol Building, with panel discussions following in the Woodrow Wilson Plaza located in the Ronald Reagan Building and an evening gala at the State Department.
Panels scheduled throughout the day include: "Student Loan Forgiveness in Exchange for Academic Mentoring of Foster Children," "Physical Health, Nutrition and Obesity in Youth," "Drugs & Drug Trafficking," "Mental Heath and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," " Impact of AIDS and HIV on African American Community" and "The Impact of Economic Decline on the Future of Our Children."
CUN Chairwoman Daphna Ziman remarked, "We are proud to have such amazing legislative support and incredible talent attending this years conference along with top university researchers and foundations assembled together in the effort of helping us raise awareness to the needs of our nations at risk youth and assist us in lending a voice to the voiceless children."
Terrence Howard, Shawn King and rapper Mos Def are also scheduled to join this year's crop of confirmed political leaders, including Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, Congresswoman Diane Watson, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Howard Berman, Congressman Joseph Crowley, Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Mary Landrieu, Senator Evan Bayh, Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Christopher Dodd, Congressman Ed Markey, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congresswoman Laura Richardson and Congressman Dennis Cordoza.
In the year since the last conference, Children Uniting Nations has seen significant legislative achievements in support of mentoring for at-risk children. An amendment to provide loan forgiveness to community college students who mentor at-risk youth in their communities was passed by the House as part of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act in 2008, and an amendment to support the mentoring of children in foster care was passed unanimously in the Senate as part of the recent Serve America Act (2009).
Children Uniting Nations "Mentor Me" promotional film
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