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Classroom Citizens: Accenture
CHICAGO, IL (May 2011)—The law department at Chicago-based Accenture launched its Legal Corporate Citizenship initiative in 2004 to nurture pro bono and community volunteer work. More here.

Finally, A Memorial for American Flight 191 Victims
DES PLAINES, IL (May 25, 2011)—Thirty-two years of waiting to memorialize the victims of American Airlines Flight 191 is long enough, says Melody Smith of Arlington Heights, whose parents were killed in a crash on this day in 1979. Finally, a permanent memorial will be dedicated this fall in Des Plaines to remember the 273 lives lost in the deadliest, non-terror-related airplane crash in U.S. aviation history. More here.

Egdewood 8th Graders Selected for State Project Citizen Competition
HIGHLAND PARK, IL (May 19, 2011)—Congratulations to Edgewood Middle School students in teacher Elaine Juarez's 8th grade English class, whose project on untreated adolescent depression won the regional Project Citizen competition May 11 at the College of Lake County University Center in Grayslake, earning them an opportunity to compete at the state level. More here.

CPS Elementary Students Relish Their Turn in Jury Box
CHICAGO, IL (November 22, 2010)—Most adults will do whatever they can to avoid jury duty—a civic duty often considered inconvenient at best. However, when fourth graders in Beth Levinsky's class at Sawyer Elementary School in Gage Park were asked what it felt like to be on a jury, twenty hands enthusiastically shot up in the air. More here.

Pugh Jones Johnson & Quandt, PC Attorney Visits Santa Lucia As 'Lawyer in the Classroom
CHICAGO, IL (September 22, 2010)—The Santa Lucia 8th grade class had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Jorge Cazares into their classroom on September 1, 2010 for “Lawyers in the Classroom ” Day. Mr. Cazares is a partner at the Law Firm Pugh Jones Johnson & Quandt, PC in Chicago as well as a member of the School Board and a current Santa Lucia parent. More here.

Deliberating in a Democracy National Institute Tackles Controversial Issues
OAK BROOK, IL (October 11, 2010)—Teachers listened intently as FBI Special Agent Patrick Geahan spoke of Ryan Halligan, a young boy who committed suicide after experiencing “cyberbullying” at the hands of his classmates. Ryan was only 13 when he took his own life after being taunted online because of his learning disorder. More here.

Carl Sandburg High School recognized as Illinois Democracy School
ORLAND PARK, IL (September 17, 2010)—In a packed auditorium filled with students, teachers, administrators and school board members, Carl Sandburg High School was recognized by the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition, in partnership with the McCormick Foundation, Citizen Advocacy Center and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago as Illinois's ninth Democracy School. More here.

Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. attorneys spend Law Day 2010 teaching CPS students to interpret laws

Arnstein attorneys, Smyser students address First Amendment
Chicago, IL (June 3, 2010)—The program is coordinated by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Lawyers in the Classroom places attorney volunteers in classrooms to help students to better understand the U.S. Constitution, the legal system and law-related. More here.

Teens take up texting-while-driving ban
GRAYSLAKE, IL (May 17, 2010)—While state lawmakers were on vacation Tuesday, middle school students were busy unveiling proposed legislation and policies at the University Center of Lake County. Policies to address problems such as texting while driving and secondhand smoke were presented during the annual Lake County Middle School Project Citizen Showcase. More here.

Civic Education Roundtable Held in Chicago
CHICAGO (May 13, 2010) — More than 50 representatives from several Chicago area colleges, universities, public and private schools, and foundations participated in a civic education roundtable on May 13 in Chicago. The conference was hosted by The Jack Miller Center and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago.

Marjorie Rendell, the first lady of Pennsylvania and a judge on the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, was the featured speaker. Judge Rendell is one of the nation's leading advocates for civic education. She was introduced by her good friend and CRFC Board member Diane Wood, a judge on the United States Circuit Court, Seventh District. Judge Rendell's remarks were focused on the question, “Does Civic Education Matter?” and were followed by panel discussions addressing the need to strengthen civic education at the middle school and high school levels, as well as at the college level. More here

Exelon Honors Legal Department Volunteers, Donates
$5,000 to CRFC, for Lawyers in the Classroom Program
CHICAGO (May 4, 2010) — Exelon Corporation has donated a $5,000 cash grant to Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC) in honor of a team of volunteers from the Exelon and ComEd legal departments for their work with the Edward J. Lewis II Lawyers in the Classroom program. Exelon presents its Energy for the Community Volunteer awards annually, along with cash grants to the winners' nonprofits. This is the first time the company has selected a full volunteer team for a merit award. More (continued here)

School Funding, Facebook, and Immigration Are
Focus of CRFC's 16th Annual Illinois Youth Summit
April 30, 2010— Chicago, IL. Over 150 high school students representing 15 schools from the Chicago Public Schools and the metro area convened at the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago for the 16th annual Illinois Youth Summit to discuss hot button issues selected by students months before the rest of the nation began filling in their policy agenda. (continued here)

Hinsdale Central High wins 2010 ISBA Mock Trials
Hinsdale Central High School finished in first place in the Illinois State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Invitational, conducted March 12-13 at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Other teams in the final four were Evanston Township HS (2nd place), York HS, Elmhurst (3rd place), and Timothy Christian HS, Elmhurst (4th place). CRFC undertook a comprehensive review of the materials prior to release, and CRFC was a first-time official co-sponsor of the Invitational.

Head Start: Accenture Lawyers Go Back to School with Lawyers in the Classroom
There aren't many places where lawyers are treated like rock stars. But John Barry Elementary School on Chicago's West Side is one of them. For the past six years, attorneys from Accenture and DLA Piper have partnered with the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC) to teach students at Barry, many of whom are low income, about the U.S. legal system. Through “Lawyers in the Classroom,” the attorneys teach quarterly hour-long lessons that help students understand how legal issues relate to them. Read the complete story at www.insidecounsel.com.

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP Attorneys Participate in Lawyers in the Classroom at Finkl Elementary
CHICAGO (January 29, 2010). On January 27, 2010, Neal Gerber Eisenberg's attorney team made its first of five scheduled visits to the William F. Finkl Elementary School in Chicago. The visit was a tremendous success for all involved, and the beginning of what promises to be a lasting partnership between Neal Gerber Eisenberg and CRFC. Read more here..

Sen. George McGovern Speaks at CRFC 2009 Educator Conference
10/27/09: The Daily Herald reports “Dozens of suburban high school teachers took on the role of pupils Friday, when former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate George McGovern turned the tables and give them a lesson in living history.” Read the complete story at: http://www.dailyherald.com or download a copy of the complete article.

Also: Q & A sidebar with Sen. McGovern

Maine West Honored For Immersing Teens In Civic Involvement
October 23, 2009: The Chicago Tribune reports “On Friday, Sept. 18, the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition - joined by the Illinois State Board of Education and several elected officials -- honored Maine West as one of three suburban schools whose work has earned the designation of 'Illinois Democracy School.' Read the complete story at www.triblocal.com

photo: Shawn Healy, McCormick Foundation; Carolyn Pereira, Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago; Kelly Pecak; Susan Gahagan Mueller; Dan Fouts; State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie); and Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Jesse Ruiz.

Help Is On The Way To Springfield
July 4, 2009: The Southern Illinoisan reports “Scores of elementary and middle-school students made exciting discoveries this spring - not in the amazing world of science but in laboratories of democracy.” Read the complete story at www.thesouthern.com

U-46 Superintendent Recognizes Middle Schools for More Perfect Union Activities
May 13, 2009: U-46 Superintendent Dr. Jose M. Torres presented Canton, Eastview, Ellis, Gifford, Kenyon Woods, Kimball, Larsen, and Tefft Middle Schools with plaques from CRFC in recognition of their outstanding work as part of the More Perfect Union Project funded by the Grand Victoria Foundation. The ceremony was held at the Gail Borden Public Library. Teachers implemented the six-unit MPU curriculum as part of a year-long effort to help seventh and eighth grade students develop a deeper understanding of the Constitution and how our government works.

CBA Lawyers Inspire Goudy Graduate To Seek Legal Career
April 2009, Chicago Bar Association Record : A former [Chicago Public Schools] Goudy School student who took part in the Lawyers in the Classroom program and the State v. Bean filming spoke to the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago about how the joint program with the Chicago Bar Association influenced her to become an attorney. Click here to read the complete story.

AMICUS CURIOUS: Lawyers Capping Schools' Lessons On Rights
November 17, 2008 Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: Jenner & Block LLP associate Thomas M. Winegar breaks a fictional school's rule against wearing hats as he helps teach students at the Mozart Elementary School on Chicago's Northwest Side about the U.S. legal system as part of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago's Edward J. Lewis Lawyers in the Classroom program. Click here to read the complete story..

Herrick Class Project Encourages Recycling
May 24, 2007: The Downers Grove Reporter reports “A Herrick Middle School eighth-grade social studies class is on a mission. Teacher Jay Swanstrom's second period class has been working on an assignment known as “Project Citizen” in an effort to not only help clean up the Downers Grove school, but the community at large.” Read the complete story at www.mysuburbanlife.com.

photo: Mr. Swanstrom's class at Herrick Middle School works on a project to help make the school and Downers Grove a less polluted place. Students work in groups to generate ideas about designing the recycling bins. Working on a computer are Ally Haley (right) and Sarah Mastny both of Downers Grove