Young Texans Gather to Explore Causes and Solutions for Low Civic Engagement, Oct. 2
Event: The Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, and KUT News 90.5 are hosting an interactive dialogue among young Texans — those who are engaged and those who aren’t — about the causes of low civic participation in central Texas and how to boost it. “Why Bother? Voices of a New Generation” will explore:
۰ Why some young people are passionate community volunteers but disengaged voters,
۰ Why others are opting out of a presidential election that offers radically different visions for the future of the country, and
۰ What it will take to magnify the influence of the largest potential voting bloc in America in the political process.
Featured panelists include: Jeanne Goka, principal of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders; Paulina Sosa, University of Texas student and ONE Campaign Austin Leader; Ann Beeson, Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life; and other young leaders and community members.
The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required. Participants may register at https://www.klrusupport.org/whybother.
When: 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012
Where: KLRU, Studio 6A, 2504-B Whitis Ave (southeast corner of Guadalupe and Dean Keeton)
Background: This community forum will be streamed live online on KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, and KUT.org. It will be broadcast Thursday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. on KLRU (channel 18, cable channel 9) and KUT 90.5, and again on KLRU on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m. and on KUT 90.5 at 5 p.m. KUT News is producing a series of reports on the crisis of civic engagement, which will air leading up to and following the Oct. 2 forum.
Sponsored by the Strauss Institute for Civic Life, KLRU and KUT, this event is part of Why Bother? Engaging Texans in Democracy Today, a news and public dialogue series intended to get people talking about why Texas has one of the lowest rates of civic engagement in the world, and what we can do about it.
Future public dialogues this fall and next spring will address the impact of changing demographics on civic participation in central Texas, how to get your voice heard by the Texas Legislature and what it will take to get more citizens involved in Austin city government and planning. For more information about the series and the civic engagement crisis in central Texas, visit whybothertexas.org.
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Contacts: Laura Byerly, Annette Strauss Institute, (512) 471-2182; Erin Geisler, KUT, (512) 475-8071; or April Burcham, KLRU, (512) 475-9070
