Illinois Youth Summit Program Features

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS
Interact with a diverse group of their peers from across the state to study and deliberate issues of importance to them Design and implement service projects that address community needs Exchange ideas and opinions with policymakers in Chicago and Washington via teleconference
BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS
Receive training on issues, teaching strategies, and ideas for service projects [CPDUs available] Receive class sets of the Summit Resource Guide and other materials free of charge Involve students with Outside Resource People, such as public officials and legal experts, who shape law and public policy
BENEFITS FOR POLICYMAKERS
Bring real life experience to student's questions about policy issues Provide an opportunity for students to interact with role models in public service Have a hands-on role in helping youth become informed citizens


PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
	Student Advisory Committee (SAC) made up of two students from each school who attend meetings on December 5, February 6, and March 12 to choose issues, learn about the issues, and receive training on how to be discussion leaders at the Summit. [Lunch provided]
Summit Resource Guide which includes: The 2006 Illinois Youth Summit survey, background information on the featured issues and policies, suggested classroom lessons, and ideas for community service projects.
	Service Learning Project related to one of the policies under study and presented at the Youth Summit.
Youth Summit on April 25 at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. Student delegates talk with policymakers about the issues. The Summit concludes with a Town Meeting where delegates take final positions on the issues. [Lunch provided]
	Post-Summit Enrichment Opportunities include Post-Summit Exchanges with non-participating schools, and International Teleconferences with peers in Eastern Europe about the Summit issues.

The 2008 Illinois Youth Summit is a program of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago. Funding is provided in part through the McCormick Tribune Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. Youth Summits were created in 1995 as a national violence-prevention initiative by Youth for Justice and sponsored by the United States Department of Justice through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Last updated: October 3, 2007

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