What's New in Civic Education and Youth Civic Engagement Work .... (January 2006 Archive Section)

January 31, 2006

• The Dirksen Congressional Center has posted a new feature on "CongressLink" entitled ”The Civil Rights Documentation Project”
  
  Intended to serve the needs of teachers and students, The Civil Rights Documentation Project demonstrates that Congress is capable of converting big ideas into powerful law, that citizen engagement is essential to that process, and that the public policies produced forty years ago continue to influence our lives.
  
  The project takes the form of an interactive, Web-based presentation with links to digitized historical materials and other Internet-based resources about civil rights legislation created by museums, historical societies, and government agencies. We hope to provide resources teachers can use to create lesson plans and materials to supplement their teaching of the legislative process, of recent American history, and of the civil rights movement, among other social studies topics.
  

  Also, the Center asks: Did you know that in 1964 Everett McKinley Dirksen helped secure passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Take a look at some other highlights in Dirksen's life: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_emd_chron.htm .

  Contact Cindy Koeppel at mailto:ckoeppel@dirksencenter.org if you have any ideas or comments about this new feature.

  January 30, 2006

• The CivicMind shares the following:

  Civic Ventures is launching a new campaign to inspire and invest in the passion, purpose and possibilities of a generation of social innovators.
  
  The cornerstone of the campaign is the Purpose Prize, five $100,000 investments in Americans over 60 whose creativity and entrepreneurial spirit is transforming communities and defying expectations for the second half of life. Sixty semi-finalists ("60 at 60+") will also receive national recognition for their work.
  
  Nominations and applications will be accepted online and in the mail through February 28, 2006. Winners will be announced in June 2006 at a national summit.
  
  To learn more about the Purpose Prize or to apply or nominate someone you know, visit: www.LeadwithExperience.org. You can also read about CivicVentures at this link to the CivicMind Award in 2005 at: http://www.CivicMind.com/wcivent.htm.

  January 27, 2006

• Congressional Information Web Site Receives Upgrade: THOMAS Web Site Offers New Look and Easier Navigation
  
  The THOMAS congressional-information Web site ( www.thomas.gov ) ( http://thomas.loc.gov/ ) available free from the Library of Congress, has a new look, with features that improve site navigation and make it easier for users to quickly find information.
  
  The new THOMAS features include:
  - A revised home page to increase visual appeal - Left-side menu for quick access to major sections of the site - The ability to "browse" legislation by sponsor from the THOMAS home page
  - Links in presidential nomination records to Senate hearings
  - Links to related Library of Congress resources
  - Links to the full text of treaties from treaty records
  
  It is also possible to search multiple Congresses simultaneously by clicking on a link from the main home page.  This popular feature, available in the previous version of THOMAS, is now much easier to find on the THOMAS home page. In addition, THOMAS offers historical information on previous congressional sessions.
  

  January 25, 2006

• "The Promise of Partnerships: Tapping into the College as a Community Asset" is now available to community-based organizations.
  
    - Designed specifically for community-based organizations, The Promise of Partnerships offers straightforward guidance on how to tap into the resources and expertise of local colleges and universities. For the first time, organizations can gain inside information on making contact with the right people on campus, refining the planning process to ensure that they are true partners in any enterprise, working with students and faculty, and building long-term success. Examples from the field cover a range of partnership activities, from recruiting and training effective volunteers to establishing multimillion-dollar alliances. In addition, each section of the book includes practical tools such as tips, checklists, and best practices. By Jim Scheibel, Erin M. Bowley, and Steven Jones. (2005, 110 pages)

  January 24, 2006

• The Public Education Network's online newsletter announces the following:

  - "Free National & Global Youth Service Day Materials"
  Free National & Global Youth Service Day Materials are available to in the planning of service projects for the 18th Annual National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006. Planning Tool Kits, Service-Learning Curriculum Guides, and Classroom Posters are now available in print and on-line. Download these materials or order free printed copies at:
  http://www.ysa.org/nysd/resource/nysd_resources_parent.cfm

  - "National Teach-In celebration of National Youth Service Day and National
  Law Day"
  - Youth for Justice, the national coordinated law- related education (LRE) consortium funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the United States Department of Justice, invites 100 middle and high school classes across the United States to teach others about the fundamental ideas of American democracy through the Third Annual National Teach-In celebration of National Youth Service Day and National Law Day. Maximum Award: $200. Eligibility: middle school and high school classes. Deadline: January 31, 2006.
  http://www.crfc.org/yfj_teachin2006.html

  - "CiviConnections Program"
  The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) CiviConnections program links local historical inquiry with community service-learning activities nationwide in 3rd-12th grade classrooms. CiviConnections projects during the 2006/07 school year will focus on: Poverty, Health Care, Discrimination, or the Environment. Maximum Award: $7,500. Eligibility: teams of three teachers from grades 3-12 in the same public school district with membership in NCSS or agreeing to join if selected; must partner with at least one local community agency and meet certain other requirements (see website). Deadline:  February 24, 2006. http://www.civiconnections.org/

  January 23, 2006

• The Coalition for Community Schools announces its 5th National Forum, Community Schools: Creating the Conditions for Learning. This year's Forum will be held at the enaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland June 14th -16th, 2006.

  Community Schools: Creating the Conditions for Learning will focus on how community schools create an environment in which all children can learn and succeed at high levels. Participants will explore the conditions for learning through the lens of leadership, policy, systems and practice changes. For more information and to submit a workshop proposal, go to: http://www.communityschools.org/.

  January 20, 2006

• The latest online edition of Citizenship Matters ( http://www.ecs.org ) from the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) at the Education Commission of the States (ECS) is now available. This bimonthly newsletter focuses on ECS' work in improving citizenship education in our nation's schools. Among its contents are the following:

  - Rhode Island 's Senate Bill 864 and House Bill 5748 recognize "the importance of a citizenry well educated in the principles of democracy..." and directs the board of regents for elementary and secondary education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards in civics education no later than August 31, 2007. http://www.ecs.org/00CM812
  
  - Vermont Governor Jim Douglas proclaimed November 13-19, 2005 as Civic Education and Awareness Week. The proclamation coincided with a statewide Vermont Civic Education Summit at the State House on November 16, 2005. The summit was sponsored by the Vermont Bar Association and the Vermont League of Women Voters. http://www.ecs.org/00CM813
  
  - Virginia 's House Bill 1769 established the Virginia Commission on Civics Education. The Commission's purpose includes educating students on the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy, the promotion of the study of state and local government among the Commonwealth's citizenry, and the enhancement of communication and collaboration among Virginia 's organizations that conduct civic education programs. http://www.ecs.org/00CM814

  - NCLC recently released a new issue paper, " Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar E. Chavez : Legacies of Leadership and Inspiration for Today's Civic Education," authored by Anthony Welch and Julie Chavez Rodriguez. The paper examines examples from the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy and the Kindness and Justice Challenge, and also outlines recommendations for state and local governments, elected officials, schools and districts. http://www.ecs.org/00CM819

  - The National Service-Learning Conference will take place March 22-25, 2006 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . The NCLC is hosting an administrators-only pre-conference session on March 22. Advanced registration is required. NCLC is offering a limited number of $75 scholarships to assist school and district administrators attend this session. Additional information is available on the conference Web site. http://www.ecs.org/00CM822

  - Nelda Brown has been named executive director of the National Service-Learning Partnership. Brown previously served as the executive director of the State Education Agency K-12 Service-Learning Network (SEANet). http://www.ecs.org/00CM821

  - Animating Democracy , a program of Americans for the Arts Institute for Community Development and the Arts, seeks to foster civic engagement through arts and cultural dialogue.
  http://www.ecs.org/00CM825

  January 19, 2006

• The Public Education Network online newsletter announces the following:

  "Unsung Heroes Awards Program"
  The ING Unsung Heroes awards program recognizes innovative and progressive thinking in education through monetary awards. Maximum Award: $25,000 to Grand Prize Winner. Eligibility: full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff members with effective projects that improve student learning at an accredited K-12 public or private school. Deadline: May 1, 2006. For more information go to:
  http://www.ing.com/us/aboutING/communityconnections/ineducation/unsungheroes/001137.html
  
  "The Purpose Prize: $100,000 for Five Innovators Over 60"
  As the first of 77 million baby boomers turn 60, Civic Ventures, a nonprofit organization working to help America achieve the greatest return on experience, announces The Purpose Prize – five $100,000 investments in Americans over 60 whose creativity, talent and experience is transforming the way our nation addresses critical social problems, including education.  The Purpose Prize is for those "with the passion, smarts, and experience to discover new opportunities, create new programs, or find inventive ways to make lasting social change."  Sixty semi-finalists ("60 at 60") will also receive national recognition for their work.  To nominate someone or apply yourself, click below. Deadline: February 28, 2006. For more information go to: http://www.leadwithexperience.org
  

  January 18, 2006

• The Forum for Youth Investment announces the following:

  "Positive Youth Development: State Strategies" Research and Policy Report, co-authored by the Forum for Youth Investment and the National Conference of State Legislatures. The report provides concrete ways that states are addressing key challenges to creating better aligned and more effective youth policy. To read the report go to: http://www.forumfyi.org/Files//strengtheningyouthpolicy.pdf.

  January 17, 2006

• The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants totaling $30,000 in 2006 to fund research on congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress. All application materials must be received no later than February 1, 2006 .

  The competition is open to individuals with a serious interest in studying Congress. Political scientists, historians, biographers, scholars of public administration or American studies, and journalists are among those eligible. The Center encourages graduate students who have successfully defended their dissertation prospectus to apply and awards a significant portion of the funds for dissertation research.

  The awards program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study. Organizations are not eligible. Research teams of two or more individuals are eligible. There is no standard application form. Applicants are responsible for showing the relationship between their work and the awards program guidelines. Applications are accepted at any time. Incomplete applications will NOT be forwarded to the screening committee for consideration. Awards will be announced in March 2006. Complete information about eligibility and application procedures may be found at The Center's Web site: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm . Frank Mackaman is the program officer at: fmackaman@dirksencenter.org .

  January 13, 2006

• Service-Learning Advances, the online newsletter of the National Service-Learning Partnership (at http://www.service-learningpartnership.org ) announces the following:

  - Join a national network of 100 district leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to high-quality citizenship education. Members of the network will continue efforts to strengthen and expand citizenship education and service-learning in their districts and promote civic engagement in their states and nationally. This initiative is sponsored by the Education Commission of the States' National Center for Learning and Citizenship, the National School Boards Association, and the American Association of School Administrators.
  Eligibility: District superintendents and school board members who exemplify the highest ideals of supporting and promoting civic engagement in their schools and communities.
  Deadline: Applications must be received by January 30, 2006.
  For more information: Application form available at www.ecs.org/nclc .

  - The George Washington University 's Graduate School of Political Management announces a nonpartisan national competition to identify and support innovative and replicable strategies for registering young people ages 18 to 29. Funding for this competition is provided through a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
  

  Eligibility: nonpartisan 501(c)3 organizations interested in testing their voter registration efforts with young voters.
  Award: 8-10 grants ranging from $50,000 - $250,000
  Deadline: January 13th, 2006, 5:00 p.m.
  For more information: http://www.youngvoterstrategies.org/ Questions can be directed to Heather Smith (hsmith@gwu.edu) 202-994-5052 or Kathleen Barr (kbarr@gwu.edu) 202-994-5052.

  January 11, 2006

• The Public Education Network online newsletter announces the following:

  - "CiviConnections Program"
  The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) CiviConnections program links local historical inquiry with community service-learning activities nationwide in 3rd-12th grade classrooms. CiviConnections projects during the 2006/07 school year will focus on: Poverty, Health Care, Discrimination, or the Environment. Maximum Award: $7,500. Eligibility: teams of three teachers from grades 3-12 in the same public school district with membership in NCSS or agreeing to join if selected; must partner with at least one local community agency and meet certain other requirements (see website). Deadline:  February 24, 2006. http://www.civiconnections.org/

  - "Grants for Service-Learning Projects"
  Learn and Serve America, part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, has released a Notice of funding Opportunity for grant funds to support school-based, community-based, higher education, and tribal and U.S. territory service-learning projects. The grant competition is to promote the development and sustainability of high-quality community-based service-learning programs in youth-serving community organizations across the nation.  Maximum Award: Varies. Eligibility: K-12 schools, colleges, volunteer centers, faith-based organizations. Deadline: March 7, 2006. http://www.learnandserve.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp

  - "National Teach-In celebration of National Youth Service Day and National Law Day"

  Youth for Justice, the national coordinated law- related education (LRE) consortium funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the United States Department of Justice, invites 100 middle and high school classes across the United States to teach others about the fundamental ideas of American democracy through the Third Annual National Teach-In celebration of National Youth Service Day and National Law Day. Maximum Award: $200. Eligibility: middle school and high school classes. Deadline: January 31, 2006. http://www.crfc.org/yfj_teachin2006.html
  
  - "Youth Service America and Disney Offer Disney Minnie Grants"
  This grant program is designed for youth across the globe to engage them to implement service projects on National & Global Youth Service Day, April 21-23, 2006. Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: youth (ages 5-14), or teachers, schools and organizations that oversee them. Deadline: January 13, 2006. http://www.ysa.org/awards/award_grant.cfm#nowavailable

  January 10, 2006

• Reminder: CALL FOR NOMINATIONS for 5th ANNUAL CCPH AWARD! JANUARY 20, 2006, DEADLINE
  
  The Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) Annual Award recognizes exemplary partnerships between communities and higher educational institutions that build on each other's strengths to improve health professional education, civic engagement, and the overall health of communities. The award recognizes partnerships that others can aspire to, and embody the CCPH principles, use multiple partnership strategies, involve a full range of partners and achieve significant outcomes. Read about past CCPH award recipients at: http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/awardsrecipients.html
  
  The award will be presented during Community-Campus Partnerships for Health's 9th conference, "Walking the Talk: Achieving the Promise of Authentic Partnerships," May 31-June 3, 2006, in Minneapolis , MN USA . http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/conf-overview.html
  
  Nominations are due on or before January 20, 2006. Partnerships may nominate themselves and need not be members of CCPH. Nominations are welcome from any country or nation. The call for nominations is available at http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/awards.html

  January 9, 2006

• The 60th CivicMind Award goes to the American Civil Liberties Union. This Award is timely for two reasons.  First, the ACLU was recently successful in a legal battle waged by parents in Pennsylvania to protect their children's religious freedom from the proponents intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in science classes.  Second, the ACLU is working to protect Americans from illegal surveillance authorized by the President and National Security Agency on the basis that domestic spying can be justified, without a warrant, to fight terrorism. For more information go to: http://www.CivicMind.com/waclu.htm.
  
  AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION - a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization founded in 1920 to "defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States ."
  
  CivicMind Awards recognize organizations that create, promote, and expand civic engagement, community service and civic knowledge.
  
  FYI -- A CivicMind Award in March 2000 honored ACLU-Montana for producing a series of 50 public service announcements that featured Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights.

  January 6, 2006

• GW's Graduate School of Political Management Announces National Competition For Innovative Young Voter Strategies: Competition for new strategies to increase young voter registration is announced.

  - Capitalizing on the record increase in young voter turnout during the 2004 and 2005 elections, The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), has announced a national nonpartisan competition, Innovations in Youth Voting, designed to identify and support innovative strategies for registering young voters ages 18 to 29 in the 2006 election cycle. The $3 million project is funded through a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts.

  January 5, 2006

• The Public Education Network online newsletter announces “Developing a Civic Infrastructure”
  
  - Four years ago, voters in Mobile County, Alabama, approved a property tax linked to public education, the first successful tax increase for public schools in more than forty years. Schools in Alabama are chronically underfunded, due to constitutional limits on the state's ability to levy taxes, writes Carolyn Akers. So the local tax levy was a significant victory for those in the county who believed that education had been shortchanged for years. The passage was not considered a mandate, however. Voters expected to see results for those additional tax dollars. They expected to see changes in how the school system operated in the future. The demand for accountability increased. In the same year the property tax was passed, the Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF) was named one of five national sites for the Standards and Accountability grant awarded by the Public Education Network. The overall goal of the community effort was to create a deep willingness across the community to support changes that would ensure a quality education for all students in Mobile County , regardless of where they lived or which school they attended. The story of Mobile County is one of a true grassroots campaign in which the citizens voiced that not only did they need to do something about the county's schools, they wanted to. An intensive public engagement effort, coupled with a specific reform strategy, began the momentum for change. As a result, a new public story is emerging about Mobile County schools – and about the community's role in improving them. Over time, the development of civic leaders and of civic stakeholders will be the vehicles that will mobilize the ongoing political will of the community to fund a high-performing public education system. In this way, a civic infrastructure is being built. For more go to: http://www.annenberginstitute.org/VUE/fall05/Akers.html

  January 4, 2006

• The Dirksen Congressional Center invites applications for grants totaling $30,000 in 2006 to fund research on congressional leadership and the U.S. Congress. The competition is open to individuals with a serious interest in studying Congress. Political scientists, historians, biographers, scholars of public administration or American studies, and journalists are among those eligible. The Center encourages graduate students who have successfully defended their dissertation prospectus to apply and awards a significant portion of the funds for dissertation research.

  The awards program does not fund undergraduate or pre-Ph.D. study. Organizations are not eligible. Research teams of two or more individuals are eligible. There is no standard application form. Applicants are responsible for showing the relationship between their work and the awards program guidelines. Applications are accepted at any time. Incomplete applications will NOT be forwarded to the screening committee for consideration.

  All application materials must be received no later than February 1, 2006 . Awards will be announced in March 2006. Complete information about eligibility and application procedures may be found at The Center's Web site: http://www.dirksencenter.org/print_grants_CRAs.htm . For more information contact Frank Mackaman, program officer at: fmackaman@dirksencenter.org .