WHEN: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 5:30pm-8:00pm
Friday, March 13, 2009, 8:30am-3:30pm
WHERE: (March 12)
University of Illinois at Springfield
Public Affairs Center
One University Plaza
Springfield, IL 62703
(March 13)
Illinois State Capitol
Floor and Senate Rooms
301 N 2nd St
Springfield, IL 62702-5119
WHAT: On March 13, Guest policy makers meet with student delegates to deliberate international issues. Guests include:
- Michael Jarecki, Attorney, U.S. Immigration Service
- Marie Tipsord, Attorney to Chair of the Illinois Pollution Control Board
- Dr. Steve Shulman, Professor, Paul Simon Institute
- Emmanuel Allie, Teacher, Vice President Sierra Leone Community Association of Chicago
- Dr. J. D. Bowers, Associate Professor, NIU Department of History
10th Annual Illinois Capitol Forum on America’s Future: A live deliberation between high school students concerning our nation’s role in a changing international climate, addressing such issues as the environment, economy, genocide/human rights, nuclear proliferation and immigration. Illinois students will gather on the State House floor to craft their own vision for America’s future, the results of which are shared with elected officials and policymakers on local and state levels.
Through the assistance of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, Capitol Forumwill be streamed live on the internet at www.ilga.gov. This will enable high school social studies classrooms across the state to experience this dynamic program as it happens in the House Chamber.
WHO: Illinois schools participating in this year’s Forum are:
- Alden-Hebron High School
- Astoria High School
- Bureau Valley High School
- East Peoria High School
- Eureka High School
- Geneva Community High School
- Greenview High School
- Judah Christian School
- Lockport Township High School
- Homewood-Flossmoor High School
- Illini Central High School
- Maine East High School
- Maine South High School
- Mt. Olive High School
- Multicultural Arts High School
- Newark High School
- Normal Community West High School
- Pontiac Township High School
- Quincy Jr. High School
- Carl Schurz High School
- SIU-E St. Louis Charter School
- Streamwood High School
BACKGROUND: The Illinois Humanities Council, along with the Secretary of State’s Office, presents the 10th annual Illinois Capitol Forum on America’s Future. The program, coordinated nationally by the Choices for the 21st Century Education Project at Brown University’s Watson Institute of International Studies, is intended to lay a foundation for student awareness of contested international issues, and for civic engagement.
This year’s Capitol Forum sponsored by Secetretary of State Jesse White and funded in part by the McCormick Foundation.
The Illinois Humanities Council is a nonprofit educational organization [501 (c) 3] dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Organized in 1973 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds.
D A R E T O K N O W
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