Innovative Inner City Program For At-Risk Youth Starts at USC

LOS ANGELES, July 7, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Riki Ellison, a three-time Super Bowl Champion and a 10-year veteran of the NFL, announced today that his alma mater, the University of Southern California (USC) will be home to the "Youth Impact Program" (YIP) a program designed to put disadvantaged inner city youth into a university setting for the summer. Boys aged 9-12 are enrolled in a rigorous program focusing on academics, life skills and athletics. This is the third year that the Youth Impact Program will take place at USC in Los Angeles.

The program, founded by Mr. Riki Ellison on 2005, was created with the USC's Joint Education Program (JEP) and is supported by the National Football Youth Football Fund and the Los Angeles Technical College. It begins today, July 7th, and will last through August 1st, with a year-round follow-up program to be instituted in selected LA Unified School District middle schools. Overseen by the USC Joint Education Project, the program unites LA Unified School District teachers with USC students to create the program's unique academic and life skills curriculum.

Congresswoman Diane Watson (D) 33rd California District was on the USC campus on May 30th for the 2008 YIP organizational meeting where she pledged her support and applauded the success of the Youth Impact Program.

Ellison revealed that more than 200 at-risk males will attend the program this summer at USC. Participants are selected from the local Central and South Central Los Angeles elementary schools. Physicals are provided for the participants as well as daily meals at USC's cafeterias. Ellison stated "this is a life changing experience for these young men. They engage in a university experience with a unique curriculum in reading and math that motivates them to learn and to realize a future beyond the streets and inner city life."

The life skills portion of the program focuses on team building, conflict resolution, anger management, nutrition and sex education. The football aspect of the program is one of the primary motivators for the boys to participate. The NFL Youth Football Fund provided all of the equipment that supports the afternoon football sessions of the YIP. The NFL Youth Football Fund is a non-profit foundation created by the NFL and the NFL Players Association to support youth and high school football initiatives nationwide and help ensure the health of grassroots football for future generations.

Ellison further stated "this experience reinforces the student athlete concept, as the university environments propels these young boys into looking at school in a different way."

Congresswoman Diane Watson provided her insight on the importance of the YIP's educational dimension. Watson stated "I am proud of USC, the NFL, the NFL Players Association and Riki Ellison for their outreach into our community. I plan to share this model with other inner city communities that have a university and local school systems to partner with the Youth Impact Program by telling my colleagues in Congress about the program." Watson holds a B.A. in Education and a M.A. in School Psychology. Her lifetime commitment to education stems from her involvement in the Los Angeles public schools where she worked as an elementary school teacher and school psychologist. She was also the first African-American woman to be elected to the LA Unified School District Board of Education.

Denise Woods, the YIP program director and former prominent student athlete at USC stated that in its third year YIP has been a successful program facilitated by USC, the NFL and the surrounding communities. She said "we strive to balance the athletic and the educational objectives of the camp, and we are appreciative of Commissioner Roger Goodell's support of the program. We are proud of USC alumnus Riki Ellison for his leadership and love of our kids in the program."

Deputy Director of the YIP, Reggie Grant, a former NFL player and currently a teacher in the LA Unified School District, will be responsible for the football aspect of YIP this year. Grant stated "this is a great experience for our youth in the district. I and my staff are models for them to see that excelling in education athletics is an excellent way to get on the path to success in life. We show them that studies are just as important as athletics. We love this program, and we are indeed appreciative for this blessing that USC and its staff, the NFL, the NFL Players Association and Riki Ellison provide to our community at large."

The program opens today at USC. All transportation, meals, classes and activities are provided free for the selected disadvantaged boys throughout the program's four week duration, extending into the year-round follow up program. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett, USC head football coach Pete Carroll and Representative Diane Watson are great supporters of the program. Both Mike Garrett and Pete Carroll make it a point each year to visit and engage with the at-risk young men during the camp.

Ellison closed his remarks by saying "I am a big believer in providing opportunities for our nation's at-risk youth to excel in sports and academics. Our Youth Impact Program at USC is one of the best programs I know of to give our inner city youth hope and a model to succeed. I am so proud of USC and the NFL Youth Football Fund for their continued support of the Youth Impact Program.

Riki Ellison is available for interviews on the Youth Impact Program, what the NFL and NFL Players are doing to support the program, and USC's involvement. Call Mike Terrill at 602 885-1955 to arrange.

SOURCE Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

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