MEADVILLE, Pa. – Oct. 19, 2009 – Allegheny College’s Civic Engagement Council invites community members to participate in “D4D on the Road,” a day-long political engagement and advocacy training workshop, on Friday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Tippie Alumni Center on the Allegheny campus.
The D4D – or Debating for Democracy – workshop is designed to help both novice and seasoned organizers develop effective strategies for advocacy on current public policy issues. The workshop will focus on tools and tactics that activists can use to share their messages effectively with elected officials and the media.
The workshop is free and open to the public, although space is limited. For more information or to register, please visit alleghenyd4d.eventbrite.com or contact the Civic Engagement Council at (814) 332-2713 or cec@allegheny.edu.
“As our country grapples with complex issues such as health care reform, climate change and the ongoing economic crisis, it is vital that we know how to advocate effectively on the public policy issues that affect our lives,” said Amara Geffen, professor of art and director of the Center for Economic and Environmental Development at Allegheny College. “Providing the future leaders of our county with these skills is part of the mission of the Civic Engagement Council, and we are delighted that we can present this workshop to our community in conjunction with the Year of Social Change.”
The workshop will be led by Midwest Academy, a national training institute focused on advancing social, economic and racial justice. Since 1973, Midwest Academy has trained more than 25,000 activists for national organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Sierra Club.
“D4D on the Road” is supported by Project Pericles and the Spencer Foundation. Allegheny is one of 22 educational institutions participating in Project Pericles, a not-for-profit organization that encourages and facilitates commitments by colleges and universities to include education for social responsibility and participatory citizenship as an essential part of their programs.
About the Allegheny College Civic Engagement Council
Allegheny’s Civic Engagement Council engages students, faculty and community partners in collaborations that develop responsible citizenship, improve community conditions and build the capacity of our communities, while also enhancing learning, scholarship and civic responses across a wide variety of disciplines at the college. For more information visit civicengagement.allegheny.edu.
