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Introducing iVOTE!: Bridging the Gap between Civic Engagement and Democratic Participation

iVOTE! is a Northwestern University Collaboratory Project initiative funded by the McCormick Tribune Foundation that is encouraging Illinois youth ages 15 to 22 to vote by using the Collaboratory, a web-based collaborative environment, to explore ways to bridge the gap between civic engagement, which motivates youth today, and democratic participation, which shapes public policy in ways that will attract young voters.

Registration is now open for iVOTE! If you are an Illinois high school teacher, sponsor an after school club or lead a youth organization and are interested in participating in iVOTE!, please send a message to me (rhadad) using your Collaboratory account. Please include what issue your class is interested in.

If you do not have a Collaboratory account, please go to the Collaboratory Project Web site at http://collaboratory.nunet.net and click the “Participate” button. To create a new Collaboratory account, click the “Request New Account” button at the bottom of the page.

Participating teachers and students will also receive free on-site support at their school.

Here’s a nice article about my alma mater on CNET News.

“The center for the study of the recently possible” ... I like that.

Yesterday was the 2007 Chicago Public Schools 7th Annual Service-Learning Conference at the University Center. It was hosted by the Service Learning Initiative of Chicago Public Schools. This year’s theme is “Service for Social Change,” focusing on something we at the Collaboratory are very interested in: getting students to develop skills and knowledge necessary to address broader social issues and social policy through their service. I saw several presentations by CPS students and teachers that got me very excited about the possibilities of education through service. Students are engaged in an issue that matters to them, and the community benefits from service from youth who have the time and energy to make this world a better place. It’s win-win.

So last week, after a wonderful Spring Break 2007 in Denver, Colorado, I went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the 18th Annual National Service-Learning Conference.  Needless to say, I met a lot of inspiring youth, working to make the world a better place.  I also met a lot of super cool adults helping [...]