Degree earning/earned:
Computer Science, Marketing, Music
Career:
CBS
Hollywood , CA
Actor
Currently playing the role of “ Devon ” on the Daytime Drama
“The Young and the Restless”
NOYS Meetings attended, and memories of those events:
As a RADD Kids representative, I’ve attended several NOYS meeting in Washington DC , Los Angeles , CA , Honolulu , Hawaii , and Anaheim , CA .
The youth training sessions at the NOYS meetings where quite memorable. The relaxed environment and the sometimes unorthodox meeting format encouraged greater youth participation. It was both fun and empowering.
The Skittles and the M&M’s were a nice touch!
I also performed my music at the NOYS Diversity Summit in Studio City Ca; at a SADD Conference in Anaheim , CA ; and at a mock New Year’s Eve party in Studio City , Ca, where I brought other young celebrity entertainers and members of RADD Kids to entertain and learn along with NOYS youth. We participated in the making of the Speak Out and Make NOYS video and party planner, which was produced by NOYS youth. I also attended or presented at NOYS events in DC and in Hawaii .
I am an entertainer, so performing for my peers within the NOYS group was particularly exciting. It’s unusual that I get to mingle with, learn with and share with my audience before or after a show.
Probably the most memorable event was the mock New Year’s Eve NOYS safe and sober party we had in Washington , DC for the millennium. I made a lot of friends; we danced all night and played charades. It was one of the best New Year’s Eves I can remember.
Why is youth safety and health important to you?
My career gives me the opportunity to reach people of all ages around the world. I feel that with this good fortune comes great responsibility. I want people who look up to me or admire my work, to see me as a positive, caring, role model.
As the founder of RADD Kids and a current adult member of RADD, the Entertainment Industries Voice for Road Safety; safety and health continue to be important personal convictions to uphold.
I desire to be far better known for my philanthropy, than my acting or music careers.
What are you doing now to address youth safety and health concerns?
I communicate my personal position on making safe and healthy choices to my peers and colleges. I utilize my affiliation with RADD Kids to influence the writers and producers I work with on the Young and the Restless at CBS television when and where possible to try to incorporate positive messages and display safe behavior, like wearing safety belts and making safe choices. By the way; if you flood the studio with letters encouraging them to continue to use my character “ Devon ” in stories that contain positive messages, you will do a great service to both my efforts and the efforts of NOYS! Write to:
The Young and the Restless
7800 Beverly Blvd. Suite 3305
Los Angeles , CA 90036 USA
I promote YIELD jeans and shirts, a new clothing line that promotes values that reflect good character, (i.e., strength, courage, honor, courage), and provides a positive platform for people to take a stand on. YIELD also donates a significant portion of each purchase to positively impact youth health and safety issues and desires to work with NOYS as a direct result of my influence.
I’m working with a newly signed band called “Rayzing Sons” on NFE Records, that has promised to promote youth health and safety issues by agreeing to work with NOYS youth whenever and wherever possible to develop Public Service Announcements, which they will record and disseminate to help make NOYS! These guys are really cool and down to earth! Here is a true story! A young girl, in the act of committing suicide, actually changed her mind while hearing one of their songs on the radio called “Deal with it”.
I promote RADD and NOYS on my website www.bryton.net which receives on average, 450,000 uses per month world-wide.
I most recently encouraged soap.com to promote NOYS on an article it featured about me at: http://youngandrestless.soaps.com/news/202/
And, the Soap Network just released a biography about my life, highlighting my charitable works and my affiliation with RADD Kids and NOYS. If you’d like a DVD copy, send a letter to: Bryton “ Devon ” at Y&R, 7800 Beverly Blvd. Suite 3305 , Los Angeles , CA. 90036
What was college peer pressure like?
I really haven’t experienced any peer pressure in college; however, I don’t live on campus and I don’t belong to any group or fraternity.
Lessons learned and advice for current NOYS youth:
Be yourself. You can be just as popular with just as many people, if not even more when you stand for something smart, healthy and safe. People will admire you when you take a position and stay true to what you believe in. You are a leader; don’t be afraid to be a leader of one! Soon, others will follow.
My advice to current NOYS youth would be to always offer help to others and to teach by example. Never give up! And, make it a goal in life to be well known and appreciated, not for your position and wealth, but for your wisdom and charity. |
