News Release
October 31, 2006
Lois Capps and Paula Lopez at Civic Mission of Schools Forum
Students from Santa Barbara High School and Bakersfield heard Congresswoman Lois Capps and KEYT anchor Paula Lopez speak at the fifth annual Civic Mission of Schools Youth Forum on Oct. 25 at Santa Barbara High School.
The forum has been held for the last five years as a regional opportunity — encompassing Santa Barbara, Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties and sponsored by Career Education Programs of the Santa Barbara County Education Office. The forum focuses on the civic education of students — what Bill Cirone, county superintendent of schools, calls “civic literacy”: learning through community service the different aspects of good citizenship. This year the forum enlarged its youth leadership sessions to encompass a whole day.
The day-long event also included breakout sessions led by Kristi Curtis, representing Shape of Voice; Christy Hanes from Conflict Mediation Solutions; Margaret Gordon, League of Woman Voters; Sean Mason, United Communications Unlimited; Brenna Monahan, YMCA Youth and Government; and Susan Young, Santa Barbara City Youth Council. A variety of students represented Future Leaders of America, the Academy of Public Policy and Leadership Education, Kern County Youth Leadership Groups, the SBHS Associated Student Body, Santa Barbara Youth Council, and youth involved in civics and leadership clubs, classes, and activities. The students had an opportunity to report back in skits at a plenary session in the auditorium — after listening to the music of Doug Clegg, well-known local performer and songwriter. Further information is available by calling Dr. Art Fisher at 964-4711, ext. 4400 or going to www.sbceo.org/careers and clicking on “civic mission” or “service learning.”