Capitol Forum on America’s Future, a year-long civic education initiative of the Choices Program at Brown University, raises international awareness and promotes educated civic exchange among high school students statewide.
2008-2009 Key Dates
- Friday, October 24, 2008: Initial Capitol Forum workshop, Illinois State Library, Springfield
- Monday, February 2, 2009: Pre-Forum Planning Meeting, Starved Rock Lodge, Utica
- Thurs-Fri, March 12-13, 2009: 10th Illinois Capitol Forum on America’s Future, Springfield
Capitol Forum educates high school students about controversial international issues and difficult choices facing America. Guided by their social studies teachers, students read, analyze and discuss core issues – nuclear proliferation, terrorism, immigration, trade and environment – in preparation for a public forum in Springfield, where they deliberate and debate these and other concerns with peers from across the state. The program gives students of History, Government, World Affairs, International Relations, Economics and American Studies a voice in consideration of current U.S. foreign policy issues, and helps them develop a foundation for long-term civic engagement.
Illinois is one of a number of states affiliated with the Choices Program. Choices materials, which participating teachers receive free, complement the social studies curriculum and meet the state's standards for social studies education.
In their classrooms, students research, analyze and deliberate their topics in preparation for the culminating event, the Capitol Forum, in Springfield. There, in the Capitol’s House Chamber, representatives from schools across the state engage in extended dialogue with each other and with Illinois policy makers, and craft a “Future” direction for U.S. foreign policy in the 21st century. Immediately following the Forum, teachers and delegates lead classmates in a review of the issues and in completion of the Student Ballot on America's Future, results of which are compiled and sent to Illinois high schools, area media and state officials.
To see how Capitol Forum works - from classrom to Forum back to classroom - look at this short video from the 2005 event.
The Illinois Capitol Forum on America's Future is funded in part by the McCormick Foundation.
