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Next Tuesday, Join Civitas and UNA-STL for an Evening Update on the United Nations
 COVID-19, global vaccine distribution, climate change…there’s a lot on the UN’s plate! Civitas and UNA-StL are co-sponsoring a special Zoom event next Tuesday, March 23, from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm to hear Marco Sanchez, Officer of Grassroots Advocacy for UNA, give an update on complex challenges the globe is facing. Standing up for human rights, eliminating extreme poverty, ending human trafficking, and protecting refugees are all some of the continuing endeavors despite the more recent pandemic challenges and concerns for growing climate change adversities. Now, more than any other time in recent years, the UN needs the support of everyone. Following Marco’s talk, we will share ways you can urge Members of Congress to pay in full for our UN dues this year and to pay those past due.
Click here to sign up!
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Tuesday, March 23; 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Evening Update on the United Nations
Click here to register
Saturday, April 17; 11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Jesse Lawder; working in U.S. Department of Labor for President Biden
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Tuesday, April 20; 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Hear from the STL Moms Who Awakened the United Nations Commission on Human Rights About the Westlake Landfill in nearby Bridgeton
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Saturday, April 24, 11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Christine Nobbe, aka “Space Girl,” talks about Mars, Artemis program, and more!
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Civitas Welcomes Jesse Lawder on Saturday, April 17 to share his journey from Performing in Plays to Playing in Politics
“I may be the only person in the current Biden administration with a BFA in Musical Theatre,” Jesse Lawder shared recently, reflecting on his years leading up to his new job. After working a while as an actor, Jesse joined the Obama campaign in the spring of 2008, which landed him a job with the Obama administration for the following eight years. With Trump’s election, he returned to St. Louis where he worked as the vice president at Planned Parenthood, learning a lot about Missouri voters, some of which may surprise you. When Joe Biden was elected president, Jesse was offered another opportunity to work for the new administration in Washington D.C. in the Department of Labor.
Join us on Saturday, April 17th from 11:00 am until 12:00 pm to hear more about Jesse’s journey. He also wants to hear from YOU, so it will be an hour of mostly dialogue about the politics in our state and country.
Click here to sign up!
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How is the United Nations Involved with the toxic landfill in nearby Bridgeton, MO?
 In March of 2013 Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel founded JustMomsSTL, a non-profit organization that educates the community about the hazards and health risks surrounding the West Lake Landfill, a site used to dump radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project in Bridgeton, MO. The toxic area is adjacent to the Bridgeton Landfill where a subsurface smoldering fire burns. In fact that fire is dangerously close; only about 1,000 feet separate the two areas.
Join Civitas and UNA-STL via Zoom on Tuesday, April 20 from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm for an update from Dawn and Karen about the issue. Ongoing goals include advocating to relocate people in homes near the landfills, continuing outreach to inform and educate others, addressing the odor issues, getting assistance from the EPA, and more. There will also be a connection made to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and how we can all advocate for supporting these goals by reaching out to elected officials.
Click here to sign up!
For more information, here’s a YouTube link to the Atomic Homefront Documentary that explains the history of the waste dumping and its lingering effects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duEMr4VbqbM
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Christine Nobbe Returns to talk about SPACE!
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Exploring Moon, Mars and Beyond
Christine Nobbe, aka “Space Girl,” but also an educator and director of gifted Education for DESE, will be joining us again at Civitas on Saturday, April 24 from 11:00 am-12:00 pm to provide a space progress update. She will share the latest on the Mars Perseverance rover, the Artemis project, the Moon Village, #dearMoon, the search for life, and the importance of space settlement. Whew! That’s a lot of information, but Christine will touch on basics and provide plenty of time for questions and discussion during the hour timeslot that will “Zoom” by. Since we’ll be virtual she won’t be able to pass around her incredible collection of space objects, but she’ll provide plenty of visuals.
Here is a terrific piece from last Sunday's 60 Minutes on the new race to the Moon and beyond, with major leadership from women.
Click here to register.
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LOOKING AHEAD TO SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES?
After nearly two weeks of temperatures below freezing and a city blanketed in snow, you might be longing for warm, summer days ahead. Predictions of vaccine progress make the summer of 2021 look less restrictive than last summer, meaning more summer options for students looking for challenges and a change in scenery. Below are some programs we feel might interest Civitas students. If one catches your attention, feel free to email us at info@civitas-stl.com and we can nominate or recommend you.
A Model United Nations Camp at Chaminade College Preparatory School--This camp will explore the United Nations, a body founded after the Second World War to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” Using a variety of active learning techniques, students will learn about some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Each student will represent a state in the United Nations General Assembly, conduct research from that state’s perspective on a specific issue, and draft a General Assembly resolution. On the last day of the camp, students will debate and vote on the draft resolutions in a simulation. Sign-ups will be on the Chaminade website soon.
Who? Any students entering grades 7-12
When? June 7-June 10, daily from 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Where? Chaminade College Prep in St. Louis, MO
Questions? Contact Dr. Robert Barnidge at rbarnidge@chaminade-stl.org
Sustainable Development Goals Changemakers Youth Action Program--The purpose of this program is to unite youth together from the St. Louis region to address challenges within the lens of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and equip young people with the tools, resources and relationships to take sustainable action.
Who? Students entering grades 10-12.
When? July 12-16 & July 19-23, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Where? Innovation Hall @ Cortex Innovation Community & additional field trips to areas in St. Louis
Questions? Click here to visit their website.
Leadership Initiatives Summer Internships--Leadership Initiatives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has partnered with outstanding high school students to provide them with hands-on experience that builds their ability to collaborate, communicate, and confidently pursue their futures. Unlike other education programs where simulations are the key component, students intern with real law firms, business development organizations, security agencies, and hospitals to build their resume and their knowledge. This year, they are offering both in-person programs at Georgetown University and virtual internships to ensure all participants can develop their career goals and professional skills in a safe and accessible environment. Programs include Law & Trial, International Leadership & Business, Medical & Public Health, Medical Neuroscience, and National Security & Intelligence.
Who? Students entering grades 9-12
When? Various weeks in July, 2021, depending on program
Where? Georgetown University in Washington D.C. (and remote opportunities)
Questions? Visit their website: https://lichangesummer.org/
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 Musicians Albert Skuratov and Samuel Palomino play a Mozart mini-concert for Covid-19 patients at an intensive care unit in Madrid on Thursday, March 11. Bernat Armangue/AP |
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This past week at the United Nations
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