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More than 200 Arcadia University students, faculty, Rotary and community members attended the civic education forum on Tuesday evening on the Arcadia’s campus. The event was supported by community partners Chestnut Hill Community Association, Fresh Artists, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Mt. Airy CDC, PA Youth Vote, and the Rotary Club of Northeast Philadelphia-Cheltenham-Rockledge. The Chestnut Hill Local distributed newspapers and Fresh Artists gave out “I’m Voting!” stickers designed by their young student artists.
The Arcadia Votes group conducted interactive games and distributed materials designed to engage student voters. The group, headed by Alison LaLond Wyant, Executive Director, Civic & Global Engagement and Office of Career Education, also helped plan the event with Chestnut Hill Rotary.
“When the framers of the Constitution met in Philadelphia in 1787, they were three things they were frightened of. They were frightened of the American people. They were frightened of politicians, and they were frightened of kings”
Chestnut Hill Rotary and Arcadia University planned and presented the civic education forum that featured a diverse panel of distinguished experts.
Click above to watch the complete civic education forum.
Chestnut Hill Rotarian David Hawkings, a journalist and congressional expert, moderated the panel that included: Angelique Hinton, Executive Director of PA Youth Vote; Farah Jimenez, Executive Director, Philadelphia Education Fund; Sam Katz, Founder and Executive Producer, History Making Productions; and Amy Widestrom, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
“If we go back to the election in 2020, there were all these promises made in particular to black people. We were going to create all these new policies to address inequities and then the election happened and none of that happened. ”
According to Sam Katz, Founder of History Making Productions, “When the framers of the Constitution met in Philadelphia in 1787, they were three things they were frightened of. They were frightened of the American people. They were frightened of politicians and they were frightened of kings.” Katz kicked off the forum to explain the origin of the Electoral College.
Noel Gonzales, Arcadia University’s Student Body President welcomed everyone and kicked off the forum. The topics discussed ranged from the history of the electoral system and current map to working to engage young people, stressing the power that youth hold. “There’s more of you than there are of us,” said Amy Widestrom, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of PA.
“If we go back to the election in 2020, there were all these promises made in particular to black people. We were going to create all these new policies to address inequities and then the election happened and none of that happened,” said Angelique Hinton, Executive Director of PA Youth Vote. Her organization addresses engaging youth, particularly youth of color.
Hinton will be speaking at the Chestnut Hill Rotary breakfast program on November 20. The evening finished with questions for panelists from the Arcadia student body and the general community.
Key dates in Pennsylvania are:
Monday, October 20, Last day to register to vote
Tuesday, October 29, Last day to apply for vote by mail ballot
Tuesday, November 5, Election Day; polls open 7 a.m. and close 8 p,m.
