August 2009
Mikva Youth On Chicago Tonight & Summer Wrap Up
Mikva summer programs have just wrapped up and we have a lot to share with you! The political passion of the young people in our summer programs has always impressed us, and this year's group is no exception. Their work on key youth issues and advocacy for policy change has impressed city decision-makers and journalists alike. We think this is because with your support, we have been able to expand our summer programs and make them even more rigorous than in years past.
| TONIGHT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT | |
| Mikva's Education Council spent the last couple of months working on "Reinventing High Schools in Chicago." Their work has generated some significant media attention, and they have been making the rounds, appearing on the web, in print, on the radio, and now on TV. Check them out on WTTW Channel 11 tonight at 7pm on CHICAGO TONIGHT! You'll also be able to view the clip starting tomorrow on Chicago Tonight's website here. | |
| MIKVA YOUTH LEADERS AT CITY DECISION MAKING TABLES! | |
 Mikva interns in our Summer Government and Leadership Institute (SGLI) recently met with several public officials to mark the end of their internships. In attendance were Aldermen, State Reps, and City Commissioners, including:
| |
| RADIO, TV, PRINT, THE WEB: MIKVA YOUTH LEADERS ARE ALL OVER THE MEDIA! | |
| Mikva's Teen Health Council, Education Council, and Youth Safety Council had some tough issues to work on this summer, but their focused research, energy and passion for policy change paid off. All three councils met with their respective city point-person in mid-August to propose policy recommendations on youth issues and discuss next steps towards implementation. The Chicago press followed much of this progress, as you can see from the list of summer media hits below. Education Council The Education Council met with CPS Chief Ron Huberman to discuss possible ways to reinvent Chicago Public Schools (see Report here). Their policy recommendations were widely covered in the media:
Mikva's Youth Safety Council leaders met with City Commissioner and head of the Department of Family and Support Services, Mary Ellen Caron, to discuss strategies for training peace workers in Chicago. Students analyzed survey data and visited a number of different peace organizations to come up with a list of best practices in training peace workers. Check out these media hits spotlighting this work: 
Mikva's Teen Health Council analyzed the media's portrayal of risky behavioral practices and created Public Service Announcement-style videos to get young people to think critically about negative media messaging. At their meeting with Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Mason, Health Council leaders were asked to appear on a monthly radio show with the Commissioner starting in September. They also created lesson plans to accompany the PSAs, and in collaboration with the Commissioner, will lead workshops for students and lobby on this issue during the school year. PSAs and lessons plans will be available on our website soon. | |
| MIKVA YOUTH OFF TO THE CAPITOL -- AGAIN! | |
 We are pleased to announce that a second Mikva student has been accepted to the Congressional Page Program in the US House of Representatives. Haian Nguyen (left) of Amundsen High School completed the Page Program this past spring, and this fall, Fabian Young (below, with Ron Huberman) from Al Raby High School is heading off to DC to become a Page. Haian met President Obama, Vice President Biden, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, several Republican and Democratic Legislators, and others during her Page term. Both Fabian and Haian were members of Mikva's Teen Heal  th Council, and both campaigned in the Presidential elections last year through the Mikva Challenge. Congratulations to these fine young people! We are confident that Fabian, like Haian, will do an excellent job this fall. Read more about the House Page Program here.Also, Mikva Staff member ShaRhonda Dawson and Mikva Alumna Blair Baldwin were invited to Washington last Wednesday to discuss health care reform at the White House. They were joined by representatives from Rock the Vote, Mobalize.org and other youth civic engagement organizations. | |
| CHECK OUT OUR NEW PHOTO GALLERY! | |
| We have expanded the photo gallery on our website. Please click here to see some cool photos of our young people actively participating in the political process. | |
| Our work this summer only confirms that our once small, all-volunteer organization has now become a robust organization serving a wide group of people in Chicago. By providing young people with civic KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS, and transforming their ATTITUDES towards civic engagement and the political process, we know that we're helping develop life-long civic leaders! Thank you for getting us to this point, we are truly appreciative! |
Stay up-to-date with Mikva Challenge news and events by signing up here to receive our e-newsletter. Click here to join our e-newsletter list.
