WASHINGTON, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The White House Council for Community Solutions (WHCCS) today announced that Councilmember Jon Bon Jovi will host youth listening tours at various community-based organizations across the country. Bon Jovi, who will be joined by other members of the White House Council, will engage young Americans and community leaders in candid conversations to determine where efforts are most needed. Findings will be compiled in a final report to the Council in June in an effort to highlight solutions. The WHCCS listening tour adds to the White House's broader effort to engage young people nationwide through youth roundtables.

The first listening session will take place in New Orleans on Friday, April 29, 2011, where youth who have been served by local organizations Cafe Reconcile, Liberty's Kitchen, Youth Empowerment Project and Tulane Drop In Center will attend. Additional cities where similar visits are planned include Atlanta, Houston, and New York City.

Currently, less than half of young Americans have the education, training and skills needed to compete in today's workforce by the time they reach the age of 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, such as helping young people succeed, and make lasting progress on our national priorities.

After the roundtables, the 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 at www.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 at www.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 White House Council for Community Solutions