Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation Inc

MIKVA CHALLENGE DEVELOPS YOUTH TO BE EMPOWERED, INFORMED, AND ACTIVE CITIZENS WHO WILL PROMOTE A JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. THROUGH ITS WORK, MIKVA CHALLENGE LOOKS TO BUILD A STRONGER, INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY THAT VALUES YOUTH VOICE. MIKVA CHALLENGE PROGRAMS SERVE OVER 100,000 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS LOCATED IN ILLINOIS, WASHINGTON DC METRO AREA AND THE LOS ANGELES AREA OF CALIFORNIA. MIKVA CHALLENGE PROVIDES TRAINING AND MATERIALS FOR EDUCATORS IN ACTION CIVICS IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

POLICYMAKING PROGRAM- MIKVA CHALLENGE WORKS WITH STUDENTS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO FACILITATE YOUTH POLICY COUNCILS THAT HELP CITY LEADERS CREATE AND IMPLEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY IN REGARDS TO YOUTH. USING OUR "THINK TANK" SUMMER PROCESS, YOUNG PEOPLE RESEARCH INTENSIVELY A CURRENT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING A CITY DEPARTMENT OR LEADER (I.E. THE MAYOR, THE HEALTH COMMISSONER, THE SUPT. OF SCHOOLS) AND CREATE POLICY RECCOMENDATIONS ON THIS TOPIC. THE POLICY SOLUTIONS ARE THEN DISCUSSED WITH THE KEY DECISION MAKERS AND TOGETHER THE YOUTH AND ADULT PARTNERS WORK ON IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE POLICY RECCOMENDATIONS.

ACTION CIVICS PROGRAM - MIKVA CHALLENGE'S ISSUES TO ACTION PROGRAM PROVIDES OVER 15,000 STUDENTS A YEAR WITH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN WORKING FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ON ISSUES THE STUDENTS IDENTIFY. THE STUDENTS FOLLOW A 6 STEP PROCESS THAT LEADS FROM COMMUNITY ANALYSIS TO COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND THEN CULMINATES WITH CIVIC ACTION. EMBEDDED IN THE ISSUES TO ACTION PROCESS ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT ON ISSUES OF CONCERN, MEET WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND ISSUE EXPERTS, AND COLLABORATE WITH CLASSMATES TO IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

NATIONAL EXPANSION AND EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ACTION CIVICS- MIKVA CENTER FOR ACTION CIVICS IS THE EXPANSION, TRAINING AND CURRICULA ANCHOR FOR THE ORGANIZATION. THIS PROGRAM CREATES AND UPDATES MIKVA CURRICULA, FACILITATES CONFERENCES AND PROFESSIONAL COALITIONS, AND PROMOTES THE IMPACTS OF MIKVA ACTION CIVICS TO EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ELECTIONS PROGRAM - MIKVA CHALLENGE'S ELECTORAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOCUS STUDENTS ON CURRENT EVENT ISSUES, STUDENTS IDENTIFYING AND ARTICULATING THEIR PERSONAL POLITICAL BELIEFS AND HANDS ON INTERACTION WITH THE ELECTORAL PROCESS THROUGH DEBATE WATCH PARTIES, POLL WORK, VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTER EDUCATION, CANIDATE FORUMS, AND CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERING. OVER 4,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THIS EFFORT ANNUALLY.