Lindsey Cormack, Ph.D.
Associate professor of political science and director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology
Heidi Stevens
Chicago-based writer and Director of External Affairs for the University of Chicago’s TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health
How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It)
BONUS AFTER-HOURS EVENT: Attendees who purchase a copy of How to Raise a Citizen from FAN’s partner bookseller The Book Stall are invited to attend an AFTER-HOURS event hosted by Cormack and Stevens that will start immediately after the webinar. AND: FAN will gift a second copy of the book to After-Hours guests! Details on the webinar registration page.
The numbers don’t lie. American civic knowledge is alarmingly low, and many people dread talking about politics—often choosing to avoid the subject altogether. Studies continue to reveal how little Americans know about their government. Young voters are the least likely to be registered to vote, and the least likely to turn out. Civics instruction receives the lowest number of K-12 classroom hours out of any subject, and it shows – AP US Government & Politics has one of the lowest average scores each year out of all AP classes offered in high schools. But Lindsey Cormack, Ph.D., associate professor of political science and director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology, argues that all is not lost for the next generation of Americans.
In her new book, How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It), Cormack shows how engaging with children about our political system at a young age can help to better prepare them to engage with and understand politics and be catalysts for change. She argues that we all bear a little responsibility for our children’s lack of understanding about these subjects; our political system is a complicated one to understand, our society has an aversion to talking about politics, and our schools are stretched.
Cormack will be in conversation with Heidi Stevens, Director of External Affairs for the University of Chicago’s TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, and creative director for Parent Nation, an initiative of the TMW Center. Prior to joining TMW, Stevens worked at the Chicago Tribune for 23 years, where she wrote a daily column called “Balancing Act.” She maintains a weekly nationally syndicated column. Stevens also serves as a FAN board member.
This event suitable for youth 12+. It will be recorded and available on FAN’s website and YouTube channel.
Event Sponsors
- The Alliance for Early Childhood
- The Avery Coonley School
- Baker Demonstration School
- Beacon Academy
- Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
- British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park
- British International School of Chicago, South Loop
- Catherine Cook School
- Chiaravalle Montessori School
- Chicago Jewish Day School
- Compass Health Center
- Countryside Day School
- Evanston Scholars
- Evanston Township High School D202
- The Family Institute at Northwestern University
- Family Service Center
- Foundation 65
- The Frances Xavier Warde School
- Francis W. Parker School
- Glencoe D35
- Glenview Public Library
- Gorton Center
- Haven Youth and Family Services
- Hyde Park Day School
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission
- Kenilworth D38
- Lake Bluff D65
- Lake Forest Academy
- Lake Forest Community High School D115
- Lake Forest Country Day School
- Latin School of Chicago
- Leo Catholic High School
- Lycée Français de Chicago
- Morgan Park Academy
- Near North Montessori School
- North Shore Country Day
- Northwestern University Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations
- Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy
- Pope John XXIII School
- Regina Dominican College Preparatory High School
- Resurrection College Prep High School
- Rogers Park Montessori School
- Roycemore School
- Sacred Heart Schools
- Santa Clara University School of Law
- Science & Arts Academy
- The Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School
- Stevenson High School D125
- University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
- Wilmette Public Library
- Winnetka D36
- Wintrust Bank
- Wolcott College Prep
- Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart
- Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.)
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