Selby McRae Dan Schlacter

Agenda Today’s discussion will cover: About Youth 2 Youth: Partners 4 Peace. Y2Y Website and Toolkit. Preparing for Y2Y Week (Sept. 14 –18).

What’s the problem?

The Good News Is …

Y2Y Can Help You

Start With the Toolkit!

Infographic, Posters, Flier and Pledge 4 Peace

Tips, Resources and Checklists

Templates

Y2Y Week: September 14–18

Talk about it. Share your story. Hold meetings. Spread the word. Y2Y Week

Collect ideas. Sample ideas: -Peace march -Panel discussions about violence-prevention -Hosting a local partner for an anti-violence presentation -Essay contest Pick one and set a timeline to keep progress in check. Y2Y Week: Plan an Event

Look at “Y2Y Anti-Violence Resource Links” in the online toolkit. These resources can teach you and your fellow students about violence-prevention tools. Local organizations may want to get involved in your Y2Y Week efforts–could be potential sponsors or organizers. Y2Y Week: Local Resources and Potential Partners

Meet with elected officials and prominent community members–your mayor, city council and law enforcement, first responders, and your local chamber of commerce. Share your story with them. Do they have experience with violence among youths? Invite them to join you for Y2Y Week. Share your progress as Y2Y grows at your center. Your staff will help! Y2Y Week: Involve the Community

Involve the Media

Get with a staff member to pick the outlets that make sense to pursue. Local newspapers and TV are the best options. Find general contact information for each outlet–phone number and e- mail address. You can find all of this information by visiting their websites. For TV stations, you can use general addresses that might look like For newspapers, you can look for a general news editor or an education reporter to use as the contact. It’s possible that your staff has already built one of these lists. Build a Media List

Use template provided. Focus on why it might be interesting to a reporter. Is it an event in town? Are there community members involved? Use stats from the infographic. Make it enticing! Include all necessary details: date, place, time, etc. Get it proofread and approved by the appropriate staff members, including your center director. Write a Press Release

About 5 to 7 days before your event, send your release to everyone on your media list. Your should read something like this: Good morning, My name is X, and I’m a student at X Job Corps Center in town. I wanted to let you know about X event coming up. The event is part of a nationwide, student-led campaign to end violence among youth called Youth 2 Youth: Partners 4 Peace. Details are in the release below. I’m happy to answer any questions you have. Thanks, Your name PASTE RELEASE HERE Distribute!

Two days after you send your press release, you should make follow-up calls to each outlet (unless they’ve already responded). Here are some basic talking points for that phone call: Hi, my name is X, and I’m just calling to follow up on a release that I sent you 2 days ago about X event put on by me and other Job Corps students. I just wanted to make sure you got the release. We’re excited about the event next week. Job Corps students across the country have started an anti-violence initiative called Youth 2 Youth, and our event is part of the national Y2Y Week, which is September I didn’t know if you had any interest in the story or any questions about it that I can answer. Act natural. Get to the point of the call, but don’t read from a script. Act like you would in any other conversation. Follow Up!

Remind them of the day of your event. Look for them when they arrive. Introduce yourself and thank them for being there. Tell them more about the event in person. They’ll be interested to know that it’s entirely student-led, so feel free to tell them how it all started. If They’re Interested …

If they don’t want to come to the event, that doesn’t mean they won’t cover the story. Take pictures at the event. Remember our photo tips on the “share your story” tip sheet! Resend the release after the fact. Include photos and captions. If They’re Not Interested …

The Department of Labor Office of Public Affairs handles media inquiries for the Department of Labor and, in turn, Job Corps. “OPA” is here to help, and your Center Director will likely be checking in with them to provide an update on your Y2Y Week media plans. If you are asked to comment on issues aside from your Y2Y Week activities, specifically safety-related incidents at other Job Corps centers, direct those inquiries to OPA. It’s OK to say something as simple as, “I’m not the best person for you to speak with about that. Call our Office of Public Affairs at (202) ” The Office of Public Affairs OPA: (202)

Week 1 (Aug. 24–28): Build media list Week 2 (Aug. 31–Sept. 4): Draft release. Have it approved. Week 3 (Sept. 7–11): Finalize release. Distribute it and follow up! -Remember, when you distribute it will depend on when exactly your event is. After Y2Y Week, send photos and release if they didn’t cover it. If they did, write a thank-you note. Media Timeline

Y2Y Week is the beginning. Tell friends and family about how Y2Y Week went. Stay in touch with community members. Continue to talk about violence on your center. Establish Y2Y as a lasting presence on your center. What’s Next?

Questions? Website: JobCorpsY2Y.com Phone: (ask for a Y2Y contact) #JobCorpsY2Y