The Creative Coalition and Safety4Kids Turn Words into Action with Powerful Children’s Safety and Media Literacy Summit on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. (June 6, 2007) – Yesterday, The Creative Coalition and Safety4Kids, the co-founders of The National Task Force on Children’s Safety, brought together an extraordinary group for the Task Force’s inaugural summit held on Capitol Hill. Participants included members of CongressRep. Mary Bono (R-CA), Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL), and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX); CEO’s and leadership representing the Alliance for a Media Literate America, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, National PTA, American University, Association of Public Television Stations, American Red Cross, Business Software Alliance, Cable in the Classroom, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Christian Coalition of America, Consortium for School Networking, International Society for Technology in Education, Issue Dynamics, Microsoft, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, National Automobile Dealer Association, National School Boards Association, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Parenting, PauseParentPlay.org, PBS, Time Warner, Inc., Tufts University, Voices for America’s Children and Viacom; along with members of The Creative Coalition Kerry Washington, Richard Schiff, Lawrence O’Donnell Jr., Tim Daly, Hallie Eisenberg, Wendie Malick, and The Creative Coalition Co-President Joe Pantoliano.
The Task Force is dedicated to awareness, education and lasting change by impacting national policy on safety education and media literacy. Part of our mission is to help our children become critical thinkers, able to understand and process the endless streams of media they are exposed to every day from television, the Internet and other sources.
“Children are America’s greatest natural resource,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “In caring for them, we create a bright and prosperous future for our entire nation. That is why I am pleased to serve as honorary chair for The Creative Coalition and Safety4Kids’ extraordinary summit, and will continue to work to create change so that all of America’s children grow up safe and healthy.”
“We cannot let media literacy be our ‘inconvenient truth’,” said Robin Bronk, Executive Director of The Creative Coalition. “We have assembled a group of decision-makers with a record of moving swiftly to create positive change, awareness and action on media literacy. We are poised for action.”
“As co-founders of The National Task Force on Children’s Safety, Safety4Kids has made a long-term commitment, alongside leaders on Capitol Hill and representatives from our partner groups to ensure that parents and children are given the proper tools to make more informed decisions,” said Tom Blair, President of Safety4Kids. “We are concerned about all aspects of a child’s safety, and we have made safety education our top priority. The Internet poses its own safety issues, with children as young as three having access. We are proud of our role in creating programming that helps spread the message of safety in a way that both parents and small children enjoy. Yesterday, we announced the launch of SeeMore’s Safety Browser, a unique technology that is free to download and allows parents to carefully select what their children enjoy viewing online without letting them loose on the World Wide Web.”
The Task Force is the first critical step in creating a national dialogue on safety and media literacy and determining next steps to ensure that the issues are prioritized in the minds of parents, educators and legislators.
About The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org)
The Creative Coalition is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance, primarily the First Amendment, public education and arts advocacy. Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Creative Coalition does not endorse or raise funds for political parties or candidates.
About Safety4Kids (www.safety4kids.com)
Safety4Kids is recognized as the first children’s media brand focused solely on safety and health. Safety4Kids created and produces SeeMore’s Playhouse, which is distributed by American Public Television (APTV), which garnered two Emmy Awards in its first season. With world-class alliances, such as the American Red Cross, Major League Soccer, and the American College of Emergency Physicians, Safety4Kids ensures that SeeMore and his friends are fast becoming lovable icons of safety and wellness. Season two, full of all new and exciting episodes, debuts this fall.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2007
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