Organizing for America | Tim Chng's Blog: Baltimore city youth begin hunger strike today!

Baltimore city youth begin hunger strike today!

By Tim Chng - May 30th, 2008 at 2:53 pm EDT

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Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises
Helping the City…One Peer at a Time

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Chris Goodman 443-957-5346
Daimen Poole 443-642-1333

Peer to Peer HUNGER STRIKE Begins TODAY

Students will HUNGER STRIKE starting May 30th, 2008 if the Mayor does not add $3million into the Budget for Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises.

The Starting location is the Amphitheater 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30th. Demonstrators will then march to the base of the Legg Mason building 100 Light St. (on the corner of Light St. and Pratt St.) where the hunger strikers will be stationed.

Day 1: Demonstrators will gather at the Amphitheater at 5:30pm and March to Legg Mason. *MOST IMPORTANT DAY
Day 2: Demonstrators will gather at 3:30pm (rally, speak, and perform until 9pm)
Day 3: Demonstrators will gather at 3:30pm (carnival until 7pm.)
Day 4: Demonstrators will gather at 5:00pm (rally into Mayor’s Night In.) *MOST IMPORTANT DAY
Day 5:………….

We no longer accept officials denying responsibility for the well-being of Baltimore’s youth. All responsible officials should come together until funding is found for youth jobs in the knowledge-based economy.

We demand that 3 million dollars be added to the City’s budget to fund Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises.

We demand a meeting with Mayor Shelia Dixon, CEO of Baltimore City Schools Dr. Alonso, The President of City Council Stephanie Rawlings- Blake, Governor Martin O’Malley, the Family League, the Baltimore Community Foundation, and the peer-to-peer representatives to discuss how the 3 million dollars will be financed in the City’s Budget.

Please note that we will only accept money from the Rainy Day Fund or sources not previously designated to youth.

Groups like Baltimore Urban Debate League, Kids on the Hill, Youth as Resources, Wide Angle Youth Media, Youth Dreamers, Algebra Project, Hip Hop Congress, Liberty Learning Center, Chesapeake Center for Youth Development and more are all a part of this Peer to Peer movement.

About Peer-to Peer-Youth Enterprises:
1. In Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises, young people are paid to share knowledge and skills with other peers. This means peers teaching/training peers and using their knowledge to help peers reach goals.

2. Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises can be community based, and school based. Peers can be paid to teach/share skills regarding academics, art, and a variety of other skills.

3. Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises are youth led. Adults are there to teach specific skills, and guide the work – but the young people participating in these enterprises lead each group.

4. Paid peers learn time management, responsibility, problem solving, while they gain expertise about the knowledge they impart to other youth.

5. Paid peers transfer knowledge or teach their technical or academic skill, and are also role models and mentors to other youth.

6. Paid peers earn up to $10-$15 per hour. Paid peers range from ages 10-13 (who earn stipends) and 14-24 (who earn stipends or formal wages). Peers served are anyone under 24 years old

7. This money will be leveraged with other investments from foundations, corporations, individuals, and the school system into the Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises Investment Fund

The Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprise groups have come together to form this Peer-to-Peer Movement to accomplish four (4) main things:
1. Change the way Baltimore thinks of youth, from trouble makers to part of the knowledge based economy and positive contributors.

2. Work to build an Investment Fund that will ensure a steady stream of funding in order to pay the young people involved.

3. Design a fair and unique process for distribution of these funds and reporting success

4. Bring the young people in these groups together to learn from each other, publicize the Peer-to-Peer efforts to their respective audiences, and be involved in the Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises Movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAvqS9M8VKg

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