Post by LB on Jul 7, 2004 7:23:55 GMT -5
Jul. 6, 2004 - NEW YORK, NY
Looks like some of the top hip hoppers are real, real serious about mobilizing young folks to vote in the upcoming elections. Case in point: Sean “P Diddy” Combs. Sunday night on Long Island, Combs launched “Citizen Change,” a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition to motivate young Americans to vote in the 2004 elections.
“I want young people to know that your vote can change your life,” Combs said in a prepared statement distributed at his annual White Party at the Sony PlayStation 2 house in Bridgehampton. “I am asking young Americans to hold their vote hostage and force the candidates to address our issues,” he said.
Combs identified education, health care and jobs as the main issues facing youth and said Citizen Change aims to educate voters on those issues in the coming months.
Seven cities have been targeted for grassroots outreach efforts that will stress voter participation in black and Latino communities.
“Citizen Change” is going all out. They plan online outreach, direct mail drives, phone banks and door-to-door canvassing.
Combs said the goal is to raise youth voter turnout to 20 million from the 18 million votes young people cast in the 2000 election.
“There are only a few people in America who have the energy and enthusiasm to get young people to step up to the plate and get excited and passionate about this election, and I am one of them,” Combs said. “The revolution has begun.”
If you’re interested in working with Citizen Change, visit the website www.citizenchange.com or write to P.O. Box 725, Radio City Station, New York, N.Y. 10101-0725.
Source: Reuters
Looks like some of the top hip hoppers are real, real serious about mobilizing young folks to vote in the upcoming elections. Case in point: Sean “P Diddy” Combs. Sunday night on Long Island, Combs launched “Citizen Change,” a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition to motivate young Americans to vote in the 2004 elections.
“I want young people to know that your vote can change your life,” Combs said in a prepared statement distributed at his annual White Party at the Sony PlayStation 2 house in Bridgehampton. “I am asking young Americans to hold their vote hostage and force the candidates to address our issues,” he said.
Combs identified education, health care and jobs as the main issues facing youth and said Citizen Change aims to educate voters on those issues in the coming months.
Seven cities have been targeted for grassroots outreach efforts that will stress voter participation in black and Latino communities.
“Citizen Change” is going all out. They plan online outreach, direct mail drives, phone banks and door-to-door canvassing.
Combs said the goal is to raise youth voter turnout to 20 million from the 18 million votes young people cast in the 2000 election.
“There are only a few people in America who have the energy and enthusiasm to get young people to step up to the plate and get excited and passionate about this election, and I am one of them,” Combs said. “The revolution has begun.”
If you’re interested in working with Citizen Change, visit the website www.citizenchange.com or write to P.O. Box 725, Radio City Station, New York, N.Y. 10101-0725.
Source: Reuters