2008 Media Hits

2008 was an exciting year in the news for the Mikva Challenge. It was an election year, and our students were heavily involved--many volunteering on campaigns, and working as election judges. Last year, our student judge progam made up about a third of all election judges in the city. Take a look at the media hits from the year:

• Writing for Nicholas Kristof's New York Times blog "On The Ground", Mikva Teacher, Victor Harbison, spotlights the Mikva Challenge for our outstanding work in getting young people involved in politics in an article titled, "Civics 101," on October 31, 2008. Read the full article here:  New_York_Times_-_Civics_101.pdf (215 KB)
  
  
• Students spoke with Dr. Mason about ways to improve the health of Chicago teens in the first of what will be monthly appearances by the Teen Health Council on Mason's "Doctor in the House" show on WVON (1650AM) October 22, 2008.

• Suzanne Le Mignot reporting for CBS 2 news focuses on the Mikva Challenge in a segment on October 18, 2008. Click below to read full transcript of the report:
  Students_Set_To_Take_Part_In_Upcoming_Election.pdf (38 KB)

• In the June 3, 2008 article titled "Students Find the Presidential Race Is Not Politics As Usual," USA Today asked Mikva's Executive Director, Brian Brady, what he thought about the intense interest among youth in this year's election.  "It's sort of a myth that they're apathetic," he said. "There's a lot that they care about." Read the full article here: Students_Find_The_Presidential_Race_Not_Is_Politic (46 KB)

• Students from North Lawndale College Prep were profiled in the Chicago Tribune for the project they presented at Mikva's annual Civics Fair on April 26, 2008.

• Listen here to a podcast of Chicago Public Radio April 16, 2008 report on the Peace and Leadership Council at Roberto Clemente Community Academy. Read full transcript of the report below: 
  Student-Led_Group_Works_for_Peace_at_Clemente_High (38 KB)

Mikva's Spring Peace Campaign Kick-Off event at Walter Payton College Prep on April 11, 2008, generated a couple of hits in the local media here in Chicago, for example:

• "Trying to stop the madness at start of city's sad season" (Mark Brown, Chicago Sun-Times)
  
  
• "Students get lessons in horrors of gang life" (Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times)
  
  

• "Students put heads together to bring peace to their lives" (Kayce T. Ataiyero, Chicago Tribune)

Some Mikva students have been profiled in the press for their campaign work in the 2008 Presidential Election Campaigns:

• Marc Ford from South Shore High School is the subject of a Medill Reports' piece: "South Shore student works Obama campaign, inspires others," written by Theresa Sewell on March 11, 2008. Read full article below:
  South_Shore_student_works_Obama_campaign,_inspires (62 KB)

• Ladarius Beal from Julian High School is featured on International Business Times' website:"Young Republicans," in March 2008. Click here to see Ladarius' profile.

• Ariel Williams from North Lawndale College Prep is the subject of an Associated Press article,"Study Finds Disparity in Civics Classes," written by Martha Irvine on February 28, 2008. Read full article below:
  Study_finds_disparity_in_civics_classes.pdf (38 KB)