NEW YORK, March 19, 2010– On March 8th, International Women’s Day, Man Up Campaign announced the prestigious team of young delegates chosen to lead the campaign’s global movement. This summer, Man Up delegates from over 50 countries will launch the campaign at an inaugural Young Leaders Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Campaign is proud to announce a Native American Delegation chosen to lead the movement in Indian country in partnership with the American Indian Task Force on Domestic Violence and the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition.

Renowned contemporary Native recording artist, Martha Redbone (Choctaw/Cherokee/Shawnee) was instrumental in promoting and recruiting young leaders to join the campaign. “Gender-based violence is a horrible reality for many Native women,” says Redbone who has been a supporter of the Campaign since its inception. “The concept of using music and sport to engage young people to build a global movement to stop violence against women is an inspired idea that I am proud to stand behind.”

One delegate from the Native American team, Marcus Grignon from the Menominee Indian Tribe in Keshena, Wisconsin, received the honor of speaking on behalf of the 200 delegates at a press conference held in New York City on March 8. Marcus is known as Ke sih pih soh Mekek or Swift Otter to his people and is part of the Wolf, Dog, and Deer clans. Marcus is a tribal advocate and lawyer who “feels this crucial issue needs to be addressed so that our future generations can live their lives with respect and compassion. My culture taught me that women are sacred, they are the creators of life.”

Marcus sat on a panel with prominent hip hop artists and activists including: Maureen ‘Ma’ Dukes, founder of the J Dilla Foundation, Norma Ramos, Executive Director of the Coalition against the Trafficking of Women, Chris “Kazi” Rolle, MC and focus of the film “The Hip-Hop Project” to discuss his role in Man Up’s campaign.

Man Up Campaign’s innovative movement is the brainchild of award-winning journalist and activist Jimmie Briggs. It is the first global initiative of its kind to mobilize and strengthen the existing good work of young leaders to stop violence against women. The mission says Briggs, “is to dare youth to change history…to make the world safe for women and girls.”

Over the last year, Jimmie Briggs and former Education Director at Amnesty International USA, Karen Robinson, together with a team of dedicated sponsors and grassroots organizations have worked to engage youth to tackle this issue. Man Up Campaign has been lauded by President Barack Obama’s Ambassador-at-Large of Global Women’s Issues. This week, Ambassador Melanne Verneer declared, “Man Up Campaign knows that the only way to stop violence against women is through investment in the grassroots efforts of both young men and women.”

Eve Ensler, Playwright and Founder of V-Day has supported the campaign since its inception. “It is very moving and makes me extremely hopeful to finally see youth mobilizing against violence against women and girls,” she stated. “This movement could be the next huge wave in ending an epidemic that impacts one of out of three women and girls on the planet.”

In addition to the delegate announcement, Man Up is recognizing new partnerships with Dash Gallery, Creative Control TV and UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women). Man Up Campaign is recruiting members of the music community to join the movement and work in partnership with J Dilla Foundation and producer Ski Beatz of Reasonable Doubt and Blakroc fame who will engineer tracks for Man Up Campaign at Dash Gallery.

For more information about Man Up Campaign, visit www.manupcampaign.org

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