Calendar
Look for information next week on Greater St. Louis Model UN
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Saturday, February 13
11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Saturday, February 20
9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Saturday, February 27
11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Friday, March 5
Evening
Saturday, March 6
All-Day
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Hearing from African Immigrants in StL with Geoffrey Soyiantet
We had an amazing cultural exchange this past Saturday when Geoffrey Soyiantet of Vitendo4Africa (V4A) and several other African immigrants joined Civitas staff and students for a frank and enlightening discussion. Geoffrey shared his own experiences first, beginning with the shocking weather welcome of snow his first day in St. Louis from his native Kenya. He talked of many other challenges beyond temperature fluctuations, i.e. his British English accent creating communication difficulties and the lack of a strong public transportation in St. Louis making job access complicated. Arinola Solanke, a volunteer for V4A, talked of the harrowing humiliation when President Trump described her native nation as a “shithole country.” We also heard of the challenges for immigrant children differing from their adult relatives. They often adapt to the new culture more readily, but that can put them in an awkward “role reversal” situation with parents.
What can St. Louisans do to better understand the African immigrants in our community? Suggestions:
- Read about Africa and watch movies about Africa, focusing on those with positive portrayals
- Attend the Festival of Nations and the African Festival in Forest Park and other African events offered throughout the year
- Travel to Africa
- Eat in African restaurants
- Students in particular can start diversity clubs, welcome new students to eat lunch with them, talk and share languages, and intervene with any bullying of others
You can learn more about what Vitendo 4 Africa offers, including volunteer opportunities by following them on social media @vitendo4africa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Click here to visit their website.
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Calling for Conversation and Connection
Are you a middle or high school student who enjoys Model United Nations? Or maybe you are especially interested in St. Louis issues? You might also be looking for something fun (and free!) and safe to do on a Friday night and Saturday during a pandemic. We imagine many of our readers will be very interested in a special Greater St. Louis Model UN (GSLMUN) Virtual Conference on Friday evening, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 sponsored by the John Burroughs School Model UN team. Maxine Clark, founder of Build-a-Bear, will be the Keynote Speaker, followed by a “fireside chat” opportunity for student delegates to ask her questions. The conference will include engaging dialogue about the Delmar Divide and Airport Privatization in a simulation that will be a“reimagined version of local government.” Workshops on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will also be part of the weekend experience.
Click here to learn more and register for this FREE, exciting, and unique opportunity!
Civitas will give Game Changer points to any student who attends. You can email us at info@civitas-stl.com with any further questions.
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Terrific Follow-up last Thursday Evening with Melissa Vatterott on Impact of Local Farming on Climate Change
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Back by Request--Another Model United Nations on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 9:00 am-12:00 pm!
 With national events and news dominating our lives these days, it will be a nice break to concentrate on international events again for a morning via Zoom when Civitas hosts another High School Model UN session on February 20. Middle School students are welcome to attend, too. If you participated in the November or December MUN event, you can sign up for the same country. If you do not have a country, just choose one for registration. If it is not available, we will let you know.
Writing a resolution is optional, but encouraged. Send resolutions (due by Thursday, Feb. 18) to Stephanie via email: gavinstephanie89@gmail.com.
We hope to see you there!
Click here to register.
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Nicole Rainey from ACLU-MO to talk about Civil Liberties Issues
Special Focus on Student Rights
On Saturday, February 27, Nicole Rainey of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri will ZOOM with Civitas students to talk about Civil Liberties Issues. The federal government's view of inalienable rights has changed considerably as we have moved from the Trump Administration to the era of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
The ACLU was established in the 19-teens to protect liberties that were threatened by the government overstepping its reach. Many of the causes that it supports are not popular (e.g. advocating for Nazi protestors to have the right to march through a Jewish neighborhood), but they consistently work to protect individual liberties. This is true regarding student rights in school. Nicole will be joined by at least one other attorney from the ACLU-MO.
You can register for the event by clicking here.
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A train passes a flooded railroad crossing in Nidderau, Germany, on Wednesday, February 3. Michael Probst/AP
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This past week at the United Nations
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Editor of the 
for providing Civitas students and staff with an encore performance last Thursday night. Following her January 16 presentation, there were numerous questions still in the queue. Melissa generously came back to Civitas Thursday evening to answer those questions and more. Thanks also to the ten students who attended, and especially for their insightful questions and comments. It was an opportunity for everyone to learn more about both healthy farming and healthy eating.
