Programs

Our programs create opportunities for youth to take real democratic action in a broad range of civic arenas, with the supervision and support of Mikva staff and specially-trained teachers.  

Mikva Challenge youth participate in programs that focus on three areas of civic engagement: Youth Policy Making, Activism and Electoral Participation.

In the 2009-2010 school year, Mikva Challenge programs engaged over 5,100 students in partnership with 104 teachers and school counselors in 87 Chicago-area high schools. We ran a highly successful summer program this year, and are excited to begin the 2009-2010 school year.

This year, we will be in more schools, developing more students to become active leaders in their communities and schools, and training more civics teachers in the tools necessary to provide an active, engaged learning environments for students. Our Activism and Electoral Participation programs will focus on the Gubernatorial, Cook County Board President, and Senatorial primary elections, and our Youth Policymaking program will develop strategies to continue lobbying on the issues they worked on this past summer.

Please follow our News & Events page to stay informed on our work this year. Also, see our Newsletters page to learn more about our work this summer.