Illinois Youth Summit and iVOTE AY 20072008

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Illinois Youth Summit and iVOTE! AY 2007-2008

• Nisan Chavkin
• Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago
• Chicago, IL

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Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago

• Works with elementary and secondary schools to
  develop civic capacities and commitments among
  young people
• National leader in design and implementation of
  quality law-related education (LRE) programs
• Conducts local, national, and international LRE
  projects for students and teachers
• Nonprofit and non-partisan

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Illinois Youth Summit

• Semester-long program for Illinois high school
  students
• Promotes awareness, investigation and civic
  action by high school students on current public
  policy issues affecting youth.
• Provides opportunities for students across
  Illinois to work with community leaders and
  policymakers on issues selected by the students
  themselves
• First Summit convened in 1995
• In 2008, more than 1,200 students at 24 high
  schools

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Youth Summit Collaboratory

• Improve reporting and presentation of student
  activities more effectively
• Encourage greater cross-campus student-to-student
  communications during the project
• Create a more interactive on-line experience for
  students
• Increase visibility of the Summit

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iVOTE!

• Collaboratory Project initiative funded by the
  McCormick Tribune Foundation
• Goal of bridging the gap between civic engagement
  and democratic participation
• Supporting Illinois Youth Summit as part of
  initiative

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Illinois Youth Summit Program Components

• Youth Summit Student Survey
• Research and Discussion of Summit Issues
• Service Project
• Position Statements
• Culminating Summit with policymakers

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Illinois Youth SummitSurvey

• Student survey regarding civic responsibilities
  and the Summit focus issues
• First activity by students in classes
• Provides baseline for student attitudes about
  Summit issues

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Illinois Youth Summit Survey Results

• 24 schools participated
• More than 1,000 students participated
• Successes and Challenges

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Illinois Youth Summit Cybrary

• Summit curriculum
• Live research links for each issue
• Student-recommended resources

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Student Service Projects

• Students describe their Summit service projects
• Students able to discuss each other's work
• Successes and Challenges

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Student Position Papers

• Every class asked to write and submit a majority
  and minority position paper on at least one of
  the focus issues.
• 45 positions statements posted
• How students and teachers used this component

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Culminating Summit-April 25

• Presentation of Service Project Awards
• Delegates present and discuss recommendations
  with policymakers

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Summit Collaboratory Reflections from Year 1

• Learning curves students, teachers, CRFC
• Survey
• School Reporting and Posting
• Site to Site Communication

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Questions?

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Thank You!

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Illinois Youth Summit and iVOTE! AY 2007-2008

• Nisan Chavkin
• Chicago, IL