MEDIA ADVISORY

WWW.ROOTINC.ORG

ROOT, INC. OFFERS GUNS ASIDE PROGRAM TO BELEAGUERED WASHINGTON DC COMMUNITY

WHO:                    ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together) Inc. is a non-profit 501©(3) organization committed to advocacy, education, and intervention on behalf of individuals and  families who have been victimized by homicides.  Our mission is to bring visibility and focus community and organizational resources on these homicides on behalf of families, while addressing the ROOT causes of the systemic apathy that fosters a culture of violence in our communities today.

WHAT:                 ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together) Inc.’s Guns Aside program targets at risk youth through a multi- media program aimed at r educing the level of youth homicides. Our model is based on prevention research which has found that: An effective gun violence prevention program will be age-appropriate, culture competent, target the age groups most likely to commit gun violence, and make the support and participation of parents and all sectors of the community a priority.  Guns Aside is part of a multi-disciplinary approach being implemented by ROOT  (Reaching Out to Others Together) that builds on relationships with business, law enforcement, community, and local government agencies. This program starts at the community level where effective interventions can produce results.  Supporters of this program include Washington DC Metropolitan Police Chief Charles Ramsey, “I wholeheartedly support ROOT and its efforts with the Guns Aside Campaign;” Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes  Norton, “I am delighted to offer my support to ROOT and Mr. Barnes for this very important Guns Aside Campaign.  His activism assisted me in saving DC gun laws in the Senate in March of this year;” Clarence Edwards, President of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives , “NOBLE is proud to support, as well as aid, in the effort of ROOT’s Guns Aside program;” Councilmember Ward 1, Jim Graham, “I will do all I can to support ROOT’s Guns Aside campaign in the hopes of stopping the violence on our city streets;” Councilmember Ward 4, Adrian Fenty, “I and my fellow councilmembers believe that enough is enough when it comes to the recent spate of homicides and gun violence we have experienced within our city limits - therefore I support the efforts of ROOT and its Guns Aside Campaign;” Councilmember Ward 8, Sandy Allen,  “The problem of violence and homicide has existed for far too long and it is imperative that organizations like ROOT are successful in their missions to help stop this violence and homicide; I support the Guns Aside campaign wholeheartedly;” Prince George’s County States Attorney Glenn Ivey, “The problem of violence and homicide affects all of us here in Prince George’s County and in the District; therefore it is necessary to have a proactive   program like Guns Aside,” Cornell  Jones,  Miracle Hands Development Corp, member, The National Alliance for Change, and well known community activist, “From the       prospective of being involved with youth and in the community on a daily basis, Guns Aside is an advocacy concept that has never before been seen or enacted at the community effort; it is sorely needed.”  

WHEN:                 Immediate.

WHY:                    Washington , DC again has been the scene of tragedy after the recent violent deaths of youths slain in drive by shootings escalating the homicide rate for youth  under the age of 18 to 17,  5 more than in 2003; and, the number of incidents involving gun violence continue to escalate at alarming proportions.  ROOT offers assistance to aid and abet the District Government, and the metropolitan area, in its search for solutions. The Guns Aside campaign will effectively intervene and help alter the mind set of  today’s urban youth.  Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS, CEO and Founder of ROOT emphatically states, “Too many lives are being  lost; too  many victims  injured, and too many communities are  being held hostage to this systemic and endemic tide of violence. As a government, and as a community, we must begin to offer proactive, rather than reactive, alternatives.            

PRESS CONTACT:  Priscilla or Don Clarke, Clarke & Associates, LLC -  pclarkepr@aol.com Tel. 202-723-2200 or visit www.clarkepr.com

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