Statewide Campaign for Civics as a Graduation Requirement |
Given this linkage between the Vote 17 campaign and a civics education, we our teens have also been working hard on their campaign to get civics back as a high school graduation requirement in Massachusetts through our statewide coalition, Teens Leading The Way. Representing 7 communities throughout our state, these young people are advocating for their Bill #S00183 filed by Senator Harriette Chandler to implement a pilot civics course.
To raise awareness and gain more support at the state-level, Teens Leading The Way is proud to announce that on Tuesday May 31, 2011 from 4-5pm at the Grand Staircase in the Statehouse, they will be holding a rally called Teens Leading The Way For Civics Education!
The rally will be held two weeks before June 14, 2011 when the Joint Committee on Education will have a public hearing on Bill #S00183 at 10am at the statehouse in hearing room A-2. TLTW plans to turn out teens, educators, and professionals from all across the state to both events: the rally and the hearing. Hope you can join us! |
Launching Our Online Petitions! |
Since both campaigns are reaching critical moments in their legislative processes, we are now launching online petitions for both the Vote 17 and Civics Campaigns.
Please help support our campaigns further by signing our petitions at www.utec-lowell.org/actnow.
Thank you for your continued support for our local and statewide campaigns!
Sincerely,
Carline Kirksey
UTEC and TLTW Teen Organizer
&
Gregg Croteau, MSW
Executive Director
978-856-3990 |
Vote 17 Supporters and Hearing Details |
The entire Lowell state delegation testified in favor of the bill: Representatives Kevin Murphy (the bill filer), David Nangle, Tom Golden, and Senator Eileen Donoghue. Lowell High School Headmaster Ed Rozmiarek, Lowell City Councilors Patrick Murphy and Franky Descoteaux, Dr. Peter Levine (Tufts' Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), and Avi Green (MassVote) also testified. Special thanks to Co-Chairs Representative Mike Moran and Senator Barry Finegold for making all of us feel at home in the hearing room. We expect the Joint Committee on Election Laws to soon decide on the bill and we are asking for a quick passage out of committee so that we can begin our local campaign to have this on the November ballot in Lowell. We greatly appreciate all the support the teens have received with this initiative, and we all look forward to your continued support as we move forward! Click here to return to the Vote 17 update. |