(Washington, DC, November 15, 2006) — V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen joined some of the foremost leaders on Education, Healthcare, Criminal Justice and Economic Opportunity today at a press conference on the release of a landmark report: “A WAY OUT:  Creating Partners for Our Nation’s Prosperity by Expanding Life Paths of Young Men of Color.

The report which is the work of the Dellums Commission, created by the Health Policy Center of the Joint Center on Political and Economic Studies, and funded by the Kellogg Foundation, was chaired by former Congressman and now Mayor-elect of Oakland, California, Ron Dellums.

Delegate Christensen was invited to provide the Congressional response to the Report which, using scholarly research papers, detailed the failures of this country to address the needs of young men of color in education, healthcare, economic opportunity and all of the other social determinants of their wellbeing. It further provided recommendations on the community as well as local, state and federal legislative levels to remedy them.

The Delegate opened her statement by referring to the remarks of one of the young men attending the focus groups she held last year in St. Thomas and St. Croix ,” when he said he needed “a way out” of his circumstances in order for his life to change. “I welcome this report because it gives me a blueprint to work with Senators and the Governor at home, as well as with my colleagues in Congress, to address the concerns of our young men, like the ones I speak with in the housing communities at home, and like the ones who took the time to meet with me last year to help me better understand where they are, where they want to be and what is needed to help them get there,” the Delegate said.

“I am reenergized to be participating in the release of the Dellums report that quite thoroughly and directly highlights the myriad of policy failures that have left our young men of color with limited life opportunities.  We can and must do better, and the recommendations highlighted in this new report will play an integral role in ensuring that we support and encourage our young men and help them achieve their life’s goals and reach their life’s potential.” She concluded.