Our September Youth PROMISE Actions were a big success.  Across America more than 3,500 people attended Ben & Jerry's Youth PROMISE Act events, learned about the Youth PROMISE Act, and took action to advance the legislation.

Scooping free Ben & Jerry's ice cream turned out to be a really great way to motivate people to come learn about Youth PROMISE Act and take action!  We are grateful to Ben & Jerry's for working with us to make these events a success.

In Washington D.C., we hosted an ice cream scooping event at our nation's Capitol.  A jaw-dropping line of nearly 900 staffers and several Members of Congress showed up for free ice cream and to learn about the Youth PROMISE Act.  Congressman Bobby Scott and coalition partners spoke to the long lines (side photo) about why now is the time to pass the Youth PROMISE Act.  On Capitol Hill it's truly rare to see so many staffers turn out for an event like this.

Students at San Diego's Morse High School held a Youth PROMISE Act assembly and wrote postcards to Michelle Obama (photo below).  In Gainesville, University of Florida students made hundreds of phone calls to their Senators.  Brandeis students in Massachusetts petitioned Senator Scott Brown to support the legislation.  University of Michigan students in Ann Arbor organized a concert and lit up their campus center with Chalk 4 Peace.  Days after a University of Texas suicide shooting, Southwestern University Student Peace Alliance joined with UT students to organize a Rally for Peace on their campus.  The Denver team also tabled at a festival that incorporated Youth PROMISE Actions.

Several of the event organizers were able to generate media for their actions.  In Fontana, California, a Youth PROMISE Act event at Workers Union Hall was featured in the local paper.  The Gainesville Sun-Times featured a letter to the editor, and wrote an article highlighting the students' advocacy. The local NPR affiliate and morning TV news also covered the Gainesville event.

With your support our voices continue to grow louder and louder.  By texting PROMISE to 738674, calling your Senators, and joining us at September events your efforts made an impact.  During Hill visits organized last week to follow-up on grassroots actions, Senate staffers highlighted over and over that they're hearing from us and our message is getting through.  Can you feel the momentum?