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This page is for the “Civics 101” class for Cycle 56. This is a completely new design fopr this class, which Tom Tresser has been delivering to i c stars since Cycle 27 in 2013. We will be engaging in a Civic Hack Day where the Interns will have formed a number of teams, each focusing on a specific social justice issue. Each team will select a local community based organization to partner with for the purposes of devising a service project for that organization.
Please take this quick introductory survey by February 10 -> https://form.jotform.com/Tresser/i-c-stars-c56-introductions. This will help me get to know the Cycle better faster and will supply information to be presented to the Cycle when we ddiscuss Civic Muscle.
If you would like to schedule a 30 minute Civic Chat with Tom via Zoom, please use Calendly.
SCHEDULE
- February 10 – Deadline for completing Introduction Survey
- February 21 (8am – 6pm) – Civic Hack Day – Schedule:
8:00:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking |
9:00:00 AM | CIVIC Heart – Tom Tresser |
10:00:00 AM | CIVIC Mind – Tom Tresser |
10:40:00 AM | CIVIC Muscle – Tom Tresser |
11:20:00 AM | Break |
11:30:00 AM | NFP Landscape – Brian Anderson |
12:30:00 PM | Lunch |
1:30:00 PM | Issues To Be Researched |
1. Racial Inequality and Systemic Racism Issue: Ongoing racial disparities in areas such as education, criminal justice, housing, and employment. Movements like Black Lives Matter highlight the inequities faced by Black Americans and other communities of color. Impact: Disproportionate rates of incarceration, police violence, and economic disparity among minority groups. 2. Healthcare Access and Affordability Issue: Despite the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans remain uninsured or underinsured. High costs of prescription drugs and medical procedures limit access to healthcare. Impact: People delay or avoid medical care due to cost, leading to preventable health crises, including higher rates of mortality and chronic illness. 3. Gun Violence and Gun Control Issue: The U.S. has some of the highest rates of gun violence in the world, with frequent mass shootings, suicides, and homicides. There is an ongoing debate over gun control laws, particularly concerning assault weapons and background checks. Impact: Gun violence contributes to thousands of deaths each year, with significant psychological and social impacts on communities. 4. Climate Change and Environmental Justice Issue: The effects of climate change—rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation—are increasingly apparent. Communities of color and lower-income groups often bear the brunt of environmental hazards. Impact: Displacement, health issues related to pollution, and loss of livelihoods for certain communities. There are also growing debates over how to achieve sustainability without harming economically disadvantaged populations. 5. Mental Health Crisis Issue: Mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and suicide, are on the rise, particularly among young people. There are significant barriers to accessing affordable and effective mental healthcare. Impact: Increased suicide rates, substance abuse, and social isolation, which are worsened by the lack of sufficient mental health resources. | |
3:00:00 PM | GET CUTTING R&D – Big Issue, Your Cut & Chicagoland NFP – Whiteboarding Time/ Team Ideation – Engaging with SMEs – Building Presentation & Pitch |
3:30:00 PM | Break |
3:40:00 PM | Pitches – 7 minutes (5 minutes to Present and 2 minutes for Q& A) |
4:30:00 PM | Voting & Scoring |
4:45:00 PM | Winner announced by SME |
5:00:00 PM | Closing Remarks- Photo with the Winning Team Tom meets with winning team, now the Steering Committee to set up follow-up Zoom meeing |
5:15:00 PM | Event Concludes- Final Mingling |