Anti-gang campaign to combat street violence in Latin youth.

Forty-nine percent of gang members are Hispanic, and among the main reasons why they join gangs are idleness and the continuous search for something to belong to. For this reason, the Self Reliance Foundation has launched “2 Cooltura Eres Tú”, an initiative funded by the US Department of Justice and produced by Hispanic Communications Network (HCN). The campaign is a preventive multi-media effort that aims to substitute the allure of gangs with a message promoting cultural pride, “2 Cooltura Eres Tú” is an innovative campaign that offers a positive alternative of expression through art, poetry, music, reading and design to replace gangs, and instead promote creativity and self esteem.

The campaign features the Grammy-nominated band currently topping the Latin Billboards, “La Secta AllStar” and their platinum-selling song: “Consejo,” a call to teens to heed the advice of those who’ve successfully exited gang culture. “We want young people to discover the ‘cool’ side of their culture,” said Gustavo Laureano, singer of La Secta AllStar”

“2 Cooltura Eres Tú” is a comprehensive effort that includes TV and radio public-service announcements; a national column, authored by Luis J. Rodriguez, the best-selling author of “La Vida Loca,” which is being distributed to over one hundred Latino publications during the month of June; a and a toll-free 800 referral hotline to connect parents or young people in trouble with anti-violence services in their area, and a full-service website, www.2cooltura.com.

The website (www.2cooltura.com) is a key component of the “2 Cooltura Eres Tú” initiative. The site offers an interactive blog that allows users to share their artistic abilities by displaying their work on-line, chat room, a parent’s corner featuring information and links to organizations with anti-violence services in their area, and youth-friendly resource directories with links to organizations, events, virtual communities and services, as well as book and film recommendations.

“2 Cooltura Eres Tú” was launched by the non-profit Self Reliance Foundation, funded by the Department of Justice and developed by HCN. “We knew we needed to do something different to help Latinos battle the violence impacting our youth,” noted Carlos Alcazar, President of the Hispanic Communications Network. “We are delighted to partner with the Department of Justice and the Self Reliance Foundation to create this campaign that aims to inspire Hispanic parents and youth to reject gangs, resist recruitment and when already involved, raise awareness of the resources available to help them exit the gang culture,” he added.

For more information about “2 Cooltura Eres Tú”, visit www.2cooltura.com. Parents seeking assistance can call the toll free line at 1-800-317-1314, and organizations seeking to become part of “2 Cooltura Eres Tú”.

For more information at http://www.2cooltura.com/press