Citizenship Alabama Focus Teaches Youth Civic Responsibility and Leadership

About 50 youth attended Citizenship Alabama Focus ’08, an inaugural workshop on Alabama government, civic responsibility and leadership March 17 to19 in Montgomery.

CAF '08 is a program conducted for Alabama youth by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Speakers, workshops and tours of Montgomery historic sites gave Alabama’s youth insight about how Alabama’s government works, why it is important Alabamians know what is taking place in Montgomery, the role youth can play in state government and a view of Alabama’s history.

This intensive three-day citizenship study tour gave participants from 18 Alabama counties hands-on opportunities to learn and practice skills that promote “Better Citizens Today: Better Leaders Tomorrow.” Alabama 4-Hers, urban youth and children who have parent in the military participated.

The program began in the Capitol Auditorium with a welcome by Rep. Mike Hubbard, minority leader of the House of Representatives, and Michael Bridell, assistant to Montgomery mayor, Hubbard and Rep. Richard Lindsey, co-sponsored CAF ’08.

Opp attorney Wesley Laird, a former 4-H state public speaking winner, gave the keynote address, followed by a tour of the Capitol.

Tuesday’s program featured several workshops: Judicial Education with Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb; Lobbyists Working with the Alabama Legislator by Paul Pinyan and Brian Hardin with ALFA; Alabama Agriculture Meeting Tomorrows Needs; Parliamentary Procedures; the Role of Alabama’s Media in Covering State Government with Phil Rawls of the Associated Press and Eileen Jones of WSFA-TV; Youth Issues with Dr. Derryn Moten, Alabama State University, and Alabama’s Department of Public Safety with Trooper John Reese.

Tours of Montgomery’s historic sites included the Rosa Parks Museum, Alabama Archives and History, Old Alabama Town and the Hank Williams Museum. Tuesday evening the youth, attended “Over the Tavern” at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and then a social at the Alcazar Shriners Temple.

Wednesday, students toured the new statehouse, followed by a discussion with youth about how to take what they have learned and apply it in their lives. Clay Redden, public information officer for the Alabama House of Representatives facilitated it.

Posted by dreynold at March 28, 2008 04:20 PM | TrackBack