Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement’s Post

Teens in Montana are reimagining their relationship with public spaces – and their communities are benefitting as a result. Last week at the National Humanities Conference in Providence, I learned about a wonderful project where young people restored a local park, incorporating native grasses and deepening connections to their Dakota/Nakota heritage. This is just one example from the nonpartisan Democracy Project, an initiative supported by Humanities Montana. In libraries across the state teens develop, research, iterate, and execute projects to improve their communities. Librarians such as Alia Hanson and Lori Smoker, who both shared stories during the session of what "their" kids have achieved, receive training and support from folks like Jenny Bevill and John Knight from Humanities Montana. Their presentation was full of joy and respect for teens and their energy, drive, perseverance, and collaboration. There are two elements of this initiative that I find most important: first, teens are given complete agency to decide on their project. The librarians help and support but do not direct the projects; and second, the networking and collaboration among librarians with support from Montana Humanities has enabled the program to spread to all four corners of the state. These are not hugely expensive programs to design or run, yet they have enormous impact on the teens involved as well as the communities who benefit from the teens' work. it seems like a no-brainer: every state should be doing this! There was one question mark. Where are the boys? Most of the teens who sign up for the projects are girls. The gender imbalance in civic engagement programs like this one reflects a broader, national pattern of civic disengagement among young men. While teens in The Democracy Project have complete freedom to design their own initiatives--from park restoration to technology solutions-- the challenge lies in getting more young men through the library doors in the first place. Meeting them where they already gather might help. I’m thinking, for instance, that  sports coaches or local veterans might be more effective at recruiting boys than a library flyer alone. Boys might also be swayed if they learn that the program could have practical benefits for themselves, not just their communities, such as that it could help them land a job or improve their college applications.  What other ideas do people have for engaging teen boys in civic life? National Humanities Alliance Federation of State Humanities Councils Rhode Island Council for the Humanities  #studentagency #democracy #pbl #projectbasedlearning

Partnering with Roosevelt University means investing in the future of Chicago. At Roosevelt University, we are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change, and we invite companies and foundations to join us in making a lasting impact. Here’s why partnering with us matters: • Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI): We are proud to serve a diverse student body, with a strong focus on empowering underrepresented communities and fostering an inclusive academic environment. • First-Generation College Students: Nearly 50% of our students are the first in their families to pursue higher education, breaking barriers and changing the future for countless Chicago families. • Commitment to Social Justice and DEI: For over 75 years, we’ve been at the forefront of championing equity, inclusion, and social justice—shaping leaders who create positive change in their communities and workplaces. • Impact on Chicago’s Communities: Supporting Roosevelt University means investing in the future of Chicago—empowering students, strengthening families, and uplifting entire communities. Together, we can build a brighter future. Please feel free to message me or email mlafleur@roosevelt.edu to discuss further. Let’s make an impact that matters! #RooseveltUniversity #Partnership #SocialJustice #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #HigherEd #CommunityImpact #InvestInTheFuture

Today's luncheon led by Derek Mosley, JD, Director at Marquette University Law School - Lubar Center for Public Policy Research & Civic Education was timely given the topic #CivicEducation; #Museums, and eye-opening stats across North America! During my drive home, I kept thinking, "Yes, AND.." after seeing so much misunderstood between humans, increasingly, over several decades! Perhaps since I am 1st born in the US to 1951 #ClassDP survivors that fled what was Czechoslovakia, having to "work-off" their "sponsorship" as laborers on a farm in Iowa before becoming free(d) to eventually migrate to #Milwaukee where they would complete the process to become US Citizens; knowing my grandfather found work in MKE w/Evinrude Outboard Motors before the corporation would become acquired by Bombardier and subsequently find BRP discontinue production of this maritime bellwether once executing an agreement with Mercury Marine in 2000. BRP citing that their outboard engines business had been greatly impacted by Covid-19 [as many multinational OEM's/supply chains have stated ...the mid-market bank exec reminds often via LinkedIn], while still remaining bullish regarding US resilience, looking forward. https://lnkd.in/ghq3-AED We will turn the economy around in 2025 and years to come, I am certain!📈 Honestly, I find it troubling that not many of my constituents, much less our children, understand what #ClassDP means. Here is one resource I just located via Google. Class DP info from United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: https://lnkd.in/g8zumkRF And hands down, I agree with today's panel, that US involvement in global history is sometimes hard for many reasons such as above. Further, making note that some root causes could be byproduct of the #Eugenics movement dating back to late 1800's. 🧬🦠 Also recalling a prior Get to Know talk, featuring Dominic R. Ortiz, CEO of Potawatomi Casino Hotel last year; there is more US/Global history that should be known and never forgotten, IMO. Dominic shared his impressive career trajectory, in addition to insightful stories as they relate to Native American heritage & "real history not taught in schools," including forced boarding school education/the church of that era [discussed during Q&A/and post event]. Info by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. RE boarding schools: https://lnkd.in/gWWQSpkE Get to Know: Dominic Ortiz | Marquette University Law School: https://lnkd.in/gP5De3KZ Today's Panel: Sarah Kopplin, President Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies | CESA 1 Civics Fellow | America250 Project Teacher Advisor Keighton Klos, Executive Director Milton House Robert Smith, Center for Urban Research Marquette University | Resident Historian for America's Black Holocaust Museum #BetterTogether #NeverForget 💝🕊️💙

It's October which means it's National Arts and Humanities month! Throughout the month, we will be highlighting the top ten reasons to support the arts. Today, we start with reason #1: arts strengthen the economy. "The nation’s Arts and Culture sector—nonprofit, commercial, education—is a $1.1 trillion industry that supports 5.2 million jobs (2022). That is 4.3% of the nation’s economy—a larger share of GDP than powerhouse sectors such as Transportation, Construction, Education, and Agriculture. Similar results are found at the state level (https://buff.ly/3vIWr4O). The nonprofit arts and culture industry (https://buff.ly/3S70RR0) alone generated $151.7 billion in economic activity in 2022—spending by arts organizations and their audiences—which supported 2.6 million jobs and generated $29.1 billion in government revenue." -Americans for the Arts

FROM OUR BLOG - Let’s dive into some playful, yet powerful ways to introduce your little ones to the big, bold world of American civic life—just in time for International Youth Day! https://lnkd.in/g9kQw4CZ

Can New Mexico solve their own problems? 🔍 I think Tim Castillo's recent words on community engagement may be onto the answer...“𝙐𝙉𝙈’𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 “𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩” 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚”. 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝗜𝗡 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 UNM has shared their pains and looked to solve them throughout my career, partnering with Build With Robots to automate the Pit's 🏀 disinfection through COVID, and now with Aqua Membranes, Inc. to reduce the amount chemicals needed and waste generated from the Ford Utility Center. New Mexico has plenty of areas for opportunity and more than enough tech companies ready to help, UNM is just one example of how New Mexico can 1) CoCreate solutions with local companies 2) Help tech companies solve local problems that scale to other regions and grow the tax base. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬% 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝟰𝘅? https://lnkd.in/gnHzdqhw #NewMexico #Technology

This week's election, from the top of the ballot all the way down, will impact the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Not just in who represents the nation at this anniversary, but in what funding is available, what programs are valued, what narratives are decried as "woke" or the wrong kind of patriotism, and whether people want to commemorate or engage in heritage tourism. For those doing the planning, the work will be harder. It's a great time to find out what the 250th planning effort looks like in the places you live in and care about, and what you can do to support the museums, historic sites, libraries, humanities organizations, and other stakeholders who are working to create an inclusive, inspiring, and community-building experience in 2026 and beyond.

This article shares our important approach in teaching Jewish Culture in K-5 secular spaces at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, as part of our work in combating antisemitism and uplifting all cultures. Please have a read. https://lnkd.in/g95ch_W6

Creating captivating STEM experiences for young people is vitally important. Museums play a key role in inspiring our next generations into STEM educational pathways and careers. https://lnkd.in/d-2CsZUH

📢 The Daily Herald Covers Stevenson High—But the Issue Runs Deeper A recent cultural fair at Stevenson High School became an unsettling reminder of a larger and more dangerous reality. What should have been a space for celebration and learning was instead used as a platform to push an extreme agenda—one that does not advocate for coexistence, but for the erasure of Jewish presence from the land entirely. This is not about a two-state solution. The rhetoric we are seeing time and time again, in schools and beyond, makes it clear: for these voices, there is no room for Jews, no space for a shared future. This kind of political indoctrination has no place in our schools, especially when it preys on impressionable students. And yet, who is ensuring that Jewish children have a safe space in our schools? The reality is that Jews are a global minority—just 15 million people in a world of nearly 2 billion Muslims. Too often, people fail to recognize this imbalance. The concept of “the tyranny of the majority” is at play, where the minority voice—our voice—is dismissed, ignored, or drowned out. Jewish students should not have to navigate an educational system where they feel isolated or threatened simply for being who they are. That is why we must stand together. On February 10, the opposition is organizing, and we must show up in full force. This is not just about one event, one school, or one moment. This is about ensuring that our children, our families, and our community have a voice—one that will not be silenced. 💙✡️ Stand up. Speak out. Show up. February 10. Details in below link.