Freedom’s Answer

Posted by on May 17, 2002

I am writing to introduce you to Freedom’s Answer, an exciting new service-learning program in civics and community service. I hope you make it a priority of your school for next year – just as it is a priority of Law, Education, and Peace for Kids, Inc. (LEAP-Kids). The Pennsylvania program is being directed by Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Deputy Director Marie Queen under PBA auspices.

Freedom’s Answer is totally nonprofit, nonpartisan program to engage young people in our political process in the name of those who have risked their lives for American freedom in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11. Each school (high school and college) is encouraged to create a Youth Voter Corps (open to all students willing to follow the guidelines) to do any or all of three things:

1. Make sure all school mates 18 and older are registered to vote;
2. Volunteer to be trained by local election officials to serve as non-partisan poll workers on Election Day; and
3. Starting on September 11, 2002, be part of a massive non-partisan voter registration and turnout drive to achieve the largest non-presidential year voter turnout in U.S. history – to show the world (and our own children) that the United States and freedom are as strong as ever.

Freedom’s Answer is supported by virtually the entire media, education and political communities – from AOL Time Warner to Rock the Vote, America’s Promise, the Points of Light Foundation, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, National Council for Social Studies, and on and on. Its optional curriculum materials have been prepared in an unprecedented joint collaboration between the Center for Civic Education and the Newspapers in Education program of the Newspaper Association of America.

The key to start is to review the program on FreedomsAnswers.net and then designate a schoolwide coordinator for your school’s Youth Voter Corps. Some candidates might be a social studies teacher, student council advisor, or someone with a deep interest in encouraging young people to participate in the political system. Interested parents might also be encouraged to help out. Please see the URL below for more details.

David Keller Trevaskis
Executive Director
LEAP-Kids
david@leap-kids.com

Freedom’s Answer
http://www.freedomsanswer.net
If last September 11th was one of our nation’s darkest days…
This September 11th can be one of our brightest.