News

CHENEY, Wash. - The Partnership for Civic Engagement, a collaborative effort between Eastern Washington University and the West Valley School District (WVSD), will co-host a civics conference from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Friday, May 6, in the Hargreaves Reading Room on the EWU Campus.

The conference is titled "How Can I Be the Difference?" EWU Provost Rex Fuller will provide welcoming remarks and introduce Washington State Supreme Court Justice Debra Stephens as the conference keynote.

Following the keynote, 60 student leaders from West Valley's elementary, middle and high schools will move into breakout sessions. From there, the 4th-12th graders will collaborate with guest speakers and facilitators, along with EWU faculty and students, to engage in civic-centered conversations around the conference theme. In addition, they will explore related ideas through the question: "How can I be the difference where I live, work and play?" The student leaders will wrap up the day by discussing ways to bring key conference ideas back to their peers.

Ultimately, this conference will serve as a springboard for a larger joint civics conference planned for October 2011. EWU and WVSD are planning to make the October conference an annual event.

The Partnership for Civic Engagement stems from the past four years of work between faculty, administrators and staff from EWU and WVSD, with a goal of advancing student learning around civic engagement.

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