Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey and local clergy members today joined America's Promise, the national nonprofit, and the Novartis Corporation in announcing major new support for a community-based development program for young people in the District of Columbia living east of the Anacostia River.

In its continuing commitment to build the character and competence of youth, America's Promise awarded The East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership (CPCP) a $30,000 grant, through funding from Novartis Corporation. The grant will support the development and implementation of the 5 Promises Checklist - a new tool to help adults connect youth with needed resources, such as tutors, health care and after-school programs, for the area east of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC.

The funding also supports a second local affiliate of America's Promise in the DC Area. Congress Heights' Promise will join with Anacostia's Promise in efforts to strengthen the youth of the nation's capital by fulfilling the America's Promise Five Promises:

    1) Ongoing relationships with caring adults;
    2) Safe places with structured activities during nonschool hours;
    3) A healthy start and future;
    4) Marketable skills through effective education; and
    5) Opportunities to give back through community service.

"For years, people have known that the best way to reduce crime and increase opportunities among our youth is through positive outreach, intervention and education strategies," said Chief Ramsey, a key facilitator in this new partnership. "With this generous grant from America's Promise and Novartis, the East of the River CPCP will be better equipped to turn these ideals into action for more young people, their parents and the communities in which they live," the Chief added.

Ramsey will head up a local effort to bring additional Communities of Promise to the DC area and needed resources to all of the District's youth.

By supporting the development of Congress Heights' Promise, the collaboration brings together organizations, such as CPCP and the Enterprise Foundation, and rallies them around one very important priority - youth. As a team, they will develop new resources, offer unique solutions to community problems and build the character and competence of DC's youth.

"This grant will truly make a difference in the lives of Congress Heights' youth," said Reverend Don Isaac, executive director of CPCP. "We look forward to working closely with all the other Communities of Promise in the DC area to explore new ways to provide youth with positive experiences."

The East of the River Clergy Police Community Partnership, Inc. (CPCP) is a collaboration of more than 20 churches, 25 social service organizations and 5 law enforcement entities. The mission of CPCP is to reach, assist and transform young people and their families, especially those whose lives have been affected or influenced by crime, violence and drugs. CPCP seeks to improve the spiritual and personal development of young people and build a system of community support that enhances service delivery and creates healthy and safe families and neighborhoods.

America's Promise was founded after the Presidents' Summit for America's Future in 1997 where Presidents Clinton, Bush, Carter and Ford, with Nancy Reagan representing her husband, challenged the country to make children and youth a national priority. Retired General Colin L. Powell is the founding chairman. The mission of America's Promise is to mobilize people from every sector of life to build the character and competence of youth by fulfilling the Five Promises. For more information about America's Promise visit www.americaspromise.org .