Alexandria, VA, February, 2004 –America’s Promise–The Alliance for Youth announced today that young leaders, Maya Babu, 20, of Eagan, Minn., and Kathryn Kendall 19, of Evansville, Ind., have been named to the group’s board of directors. Since 2001 two young leaders selected from the America’s Promise Youth Partnership Team have served as full-voting members of the board.

“At the heart of the America’s Promise movement is the tenet that young people like Maya and Kathryn are resources and leaders,” said Harris Wofford, co-chair of America’s Promise. “To truly fulfill the promise of America, we need to engage an ever-increasing number of young people in the important work of communities nationwide,” added Wofford. “Young people must be seen - and must see themselves - as a vital source of service to benefit other children and youth.”

Maya Babu is the former co-chair of the Minnesota Alliance with Youth and is a current partner in their new coordinating board. She is the founder of the Minneapolis Debate League, which develops public speaking, research and analytical skills in high-school youth in Minneapolis; serves at a grassroots level with the National Organization for Women; and she is also active in transforming the University of Minnesota's Promise into a student-led Promise Corps. Maya is the 2001 National Forensic League National Lincoln-Douglas Debate champion and the 2000 Minnesota State Debate champion. She attends the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, as a dual-degree student in neuroscience and psychology. "By working side by side the members of the board, we have the opportunity to learn from the very best on how to translate a vision into action–the opportunity is very exciting!" says Babu.

In addition to serving on America’s Promise’s board, Kathryn Kendall also serves on the board of directors for Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana and as a commissioner for the Governor's Youth Commission on Student Leadership and Volunteerism. A student at Taylor University, Kathryn is studying mathematics education and hopes to become a math teacher. Kendall says, "It is vitally important that young people's voices are represented on boards such as our own that are working for and with youth. It is encouraging to see how young people’s input can make a difference in the programs and services that serve our peers and I look forward to working with the board to assist in advancing the mission of America’s Promise.”

“I am delighted to officially welcome these two gifted young people to the America’s Promise Board of Directors and look forward to their key roles in this national campaign for children and youth,” said Wofford. “Both Kathryn and Maya will bring valuable insight and leadership to our campaign to ensure a brighter future for the nation’s young people.”

America’s Promise was founded after the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997 where Presidents G.H.W. Bush, Carter, Clinton and Ford, with Nancy Reagan representing President Reagan, challenged the country to make children and youth a national priority. General Colin L. Powell is founding chairman. The mission of America’s Promise is to mobilize people from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of youth by fulfilling the Five Promises: Caring adults; safe places with structured activities during non-school hours; a healthy start; marketable skills through effective education; and opportunities to serve. For more information about America’s Promise visit www.americaspromise.org.