Actor Jesse Williams has teamed up with U.S. President Barack Obama to help launch an initiative aimed at helping young African-American men achieve professional success.

The Grey's Anatomy star joined the world leader at the White House in Washington D.C. on Thursday afternoon (27Feb14) to announce My Brother's Keeper, a programme which aims to help young men and boys of colour stay in school and receive training for jobs.

Appearing on U.S. talk show The View on Thursday morning, Williams said, "Fifty per cent of Americans under the age of 25 are people of colour and having them tap into their potential is crucial to our future and this is a group that we are trying to find support for..."