WASHINGTON, June 6, 2011 -- As previously announced by The White House Council for Community Solutions, Council member Jon Bon Jovi has hosted a series of youth listening tours at various community-based organizations across the country over the past several weeks. The series of sessions concluded today in Newark, NJ as Council Members Jon Bon Jovi and Michael Kempner (CEO of MWW Group) engaged young Americans and community leaders in candid conversations to determine where efforts are most needed. The series began in New Orleans, LA on April 29, continued with visits to Atlanta, GA on May 13 and Houston, TX on May 16.

Monday's session was hosted at the Youth Education & Employment Success Centers of New Jersey and attended by the youth they serve. Youth served by other local organizations also participated, including Newark Now, HELP USA, La Casa de Don Pedro and Newark Works (City One-Stop). In New Orleans (4/29), youth attended from local organizations Cafe Reconcile, Liberty's Kitchen, Youth Empowerment Project and Tulane Drop In Center. In Atlanta (5/13), youth attended who have been served by the Goodwill Career Center, Chris Kids and Visions Youth Leadership Academy. In Houston (5/16) youth served by SEARCH Homeless Houston, Goodwill Houston, Community in Schools and Gulf Coast Trades Center attended.

The Council's findings will be compiled in a final report in an effort to highlight solutions and recommendations for the President.

Currently, less than half of young Americans have the education, training and skills needed to compete in today's workforce by age 25. President Obama established the White House Council to bring all sectors together - individuals, business, community organizations, philanthropy, and government - to identify solutions to pressing issues, help young people succeed, and make lasting progress on our national priorities.

The Council listening tour adds to the White House's broader effort to engage young people nationwide through youth roundtables. After the roundtables, youth participants can submit their most pressing issues and most inspiring solutions to the White House's Your Future, Your Solutions: 100 Youth Strategies to Win the Future website atwww.whitehouse.gov/youngamericans. This effort enables the administration to hear directly from young people about the challenges they face and connect participants with Obama Administration officials through conference calls, web chats, and other opportunities.

Established in December 2010 by President Obama, the White House Council for Community Solutions will focus on an issue with critical near-term and long-term consequences for our nation's health and economic strength - the responsibility of our society to ensure adolescents and young adults are prepared to live productive and prosperous lives. The Council is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. More information about the WHCCS can be found atwww.serve.gov/council.

Your Future, Your Solutions: 100 Youth Strategies to Win the Future is an effort that enables the administration to hear directly from young people about the challenges they face. The initiative connects participants with Obama Administration officials through conference calls, web chats, and other opportunities. For more information go to www.whitehouse.gov/youngamericans.

COUNCIL CHAIR:
Patricia Stonesifer
Chairwoman, Smithsonian Institution

COUNCIL MEMBERS
Byron Auguste
Director, Social Sector Office,
McKinsey & Company

Diana Aviv
President & CEO, Independent Sector

Paula Boggs
Executive Vice President
General Counsel & Secretary, Starbucks

Jon Bon Jovi
Musician & Board Chairman,
Bon Jovi & Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

John Bridgeland
President & CEO, Civic Enterprises

Jim Canales
President & CEO,
James Irvine Foundation

Scott Cowen
President, Tulane University

John Donahoe
President & CEO, eBay Inc.

Michael Fleming
Executive Director,
David Bohnett Foundation

David Friedman
Lead Director & Chair
Edison Properties/HNB Private Trust

Mark Gearan
President,
Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Jim Gibbons
President & CEO, Goodwill Industries

Laurene Powell Jobs
Co-Founder & President of the Board,
College Track

Michele Jolin
Senior Fellow,
Center for American Progress

Michael Kempner
Founder, President & CEO,
MWW Group

Steve Lerner
Managing Partner, Blue Hill Group

Maurice Miller
Founder & CEO,
Family Independence Initiative

Norman Rice
CEO, The Seattle Foundation

Kristin Richmond
Founder & CEO, Revolution Foods

Judith Rodin
President, Rockefeller Foundation

Nancy H. Rubin
Board Member
National Democratic Institute

Paul Schmitz
CEO, Public Allies

Jill Schumann
President & CEO
Lutheran Service in America (LSA)

Bobbi Silten
Senior Vice President, Global Responsibility, Gap, Inc. & President, Gap Foundation

Bill Strickland
Founder & CEO,
Manchester Craftsmen's Guild

COUNCIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Leslie Boissiere
Office of the CEO, Corporation for
National and Community Service

SOURCE The White House Council for Community Solutions