EDTalks: Voice, Power and Change: Students Leading the Way

Learn how young people are using new skills and perspectives from service-learning and urban debate to change the world.

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Event details

When
Mon. February 24 2020
6:00-7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30)
Where
Icehouse | 2528 Nicollet Ave S | Mpls
$5 (includes light snacks). Register below.

Presenters

Icehouse

Join us for two inspiring EDTalks on how youth are using their voice and power to create change in their communities


Igniting Civic Engagement Through Service-Learning

An informed citizenry is the foundation of a democratic society. With service-learning, students become informed citizens by researching community needs, identifying projects, connecting with experts who can teach them sustainable strategies and applying their academic skills to real world needs. Service-learning answers the question "Why do I need to know this?" with students as the drivers of their goals. Amy Meuers will lead us through an exploration of this powerful teaching and learning approach that meets not only academic and social and emotional needs of students, but also the needs of our communities and world.

Presenter: Amy Meuers is chief executive officer of the National Youth Leadership Council, an international nonprofit that is committed to ensuring that all young people become civically informed and engaged global citizens. An ardent advocate for youth voice, Amy is a social entrepreneur with more than 16 years of experience in the fields of service-learning, youth development and education. She believes that when young people are engaged in real-world experiences, they become passionate about making the world a better place.

How Debaters Will Save Democracy and Change the World

Participation in academic debate improves student test scores, grades and graduation rates, and it can also also foster critical skills that strengthen civic action and agency. Amy Cram Helwich will explore how academic debate – historically dominated by white, male and wealthy individuals - has expanded to a much wider range of participants and can help students strengthen critical thinking, listening, empathy, problem-solving and advocacy skills. She'll also talk about the Minnesota Urban Debate League's Spanish Debate, East African Debate and Financial Literacy Debate teams, in which student participants use their new skills to create change in their communities.

Presenter: Amy Cram Helwich is executive director of the Minnesota Urban Debate League, a program of Augsburg University that supports competitive academic debate for over 1,000 students at 40+ Twin Cities high schools and middle schools. Amy has over 13 years experience in nonprofit management and youth development, including work at the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Children’s Safety Centers and Big Brothers Big Sisters.


EDTalks is co-sponsored by AchieveMpls and The Citizen's League.

Thanks to Bush Foundation and Comcast for their generous financial support.

Check out our past EDTalks videos and podcasts