THE YOUTH INITIATIVE:  CIVIC AWARENESS & INVOLVEMENT FOR FLORIDA’S YOUTH

A special component of the Public Matters Candidate Forums is the Youth Initiative, whereby students in high school and college will have the opportunity to listen to and consider the presentations and perspectives of the candidates for statewide office.

Through a coordinated effort with education partners, students are being informed of live and replay airings of the Candidate Forums. Universities, colleges and high schools are being invited and encouraged to air forum replays in the classrooms, followed by facilitated discussions among students.

Students will learn about the offices at stake, including what each is responsible for and the individuals seeking those offices. They will have the opportunity to evaluate the candidates as they would if they were of voting age (for those not) and to identify criteria for such purposes.

Students will also learn about major issues facing the state – such as Education, the Environment, Growth, Government policies and others – including what the issues are, the options for addressing them, and the policy and political aspects of governance and public impacts.

The information and this experience is relevant to students from all disciplines, just as the forums are of broad relevance to the Florida public.

Thanks are extended to the Florida Education Association, Campus COMPACT and the Florida School Boards Association for their participation in the Youth Initiative.

 

Appreciation is extended to the Blue Radish clearinghouse Web site for complimentary use of these pages. For more information on Public Matters, hit the Back button. To access the Home Page of the Florida Public Interest Foundation, please go to www.ForThePublic.net.