Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Launches 'Act! Speak! Build Week' - A Youth-Initiated Program to Advocate for Affordable Housing

Habitat for Humanity launches Act! Speak! Build! a week-long youth initiated advocacy program with local students ages 5-25.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 16, 2007 -- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (www.habitatla.org) announces a new youth program, "Act! Speak! Build!" Week (ASB Week). ASB Week is a national Habitat for Humanity student initiated advocacy program that empowers young people to educate themselves and their communities and move people to social action. The program is youth initiated; students come up with their own creative ideas on how to advocate for affordable housing. This week-long event takes place from April 16-22. Student groups around the world are encouraged to implement the campaign events to give the week a more unified perspective. Last year, more than 240 groups of youth registered to participate in at least one of the four campaign events during Act! Speak! Build! Week 2006.

"Today's youth are more informed, passionate and action-oriented than ever before," says Erin Rank, president/CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. "By empowering young people to help educate the community about the need for affordable housing, we believe they will inspire people of all ages and all walks of life."

Local Schools with Students Participating from Ages 5 -25:

Palms Middle School
Occidental College
St. Joan of Arc Elementary
New Horizon School Westside
California State University Dominguez Hills
South Gate Middle School
Lincoln Elementary School, Kindergarten
Park Christian
On the Move for the Globe
EKO Multi-Purpose Center, Inc.
Palm View Christian School
St. Joseph High School
City of Pico Rivera Teen Club
California Academy of Math and Science
Hudson School
Nativity Catholic School
Eagle Rock Jr. Sr. High School
Discovery Academy
Drew Middle School
Jordan High School Los Angeles
San Pedro Community Day School

"Act! Speak! Build! Week" encourages students to host speaker panels, create posters, read persuasive announcements during school, participate in a Homelessness Simulation, write persuasive letters to city council and everything else they can think of to effect change. Participating schools will be recognized nationally and locally by Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and they will also be eligible to win awards and prizes. For more information about this program and other ways youth can get involved, visit www.habitatla.org and click on youth programs or call 310-323-4663, ext. 119.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
HFH GLA (www.habitatla.org) strives to eliminate poverty housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families in need to build simple, decent affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built more than 190 homes, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. In the spring of 2007, HFH GLA kicked off a three-year campaign to build or renovate over 250 homes in the greater Los Angeles community. Nearly 100 of these homes will be completed with the help of over 2000 volunteers from around the world during the Jimmy Carter Work Project, a five-day build project this fall.

CONTACTS:

Erin Rank                                                               
President/CEO HFH GLA                                                        
310-323-4663 ext.102
erank(at)habitatla.org                              

Kristina Irwin
Starfish P.R.
310-592-2403
info(at)starfish-pr.com

Press Contact: Kristina Irwin
Company Name: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Email: Email Us Here: http://www.prweb.com/emailmember.php?prid=518990
Phone: 310-592-2403
Website: www.habitatla.org

Press Release Source: EMediaWire