A Lot to Talk About!
` 
Despite the chilly temperature this past Saturday morning, 15 students from 12 different area schools showed up at Crossroads College Preparatory to discuss a variety of topics at the first Civitas Roundtable Discussion of 2024. After a brief introduction that included one wish for the future, the conversation got started with the sharing of anxieties and concerns surrounding the 2024 Presidential Election. The age and mental competency of the leading candidates, incumbent President Joe Biden and past President Donald Trump, generated a lot of opinions, as did the frustration of America's two-party system and the hurdles created by the Electoral College. Nikki Haley was discussed as an appealing younger candidate with a lot of national and international experience. The next topic on the agenda was Standardized Testing, both as a means of checking for progress and an indicator of future college success. Many shared ideas of other ways to assess students, such as through projects and interviews. Although no one expressed liking standardized tests, several students talked about seeing their importance, especially with the inconsistency of grading and class options throughout the country's high schools. The morning flew by with only a brief amount of time to talk about the involvement of the United States in global affairs. Should the U.S. be the world's cop? What responsibilities come with having the world's largest military? The conversation could have continued well beyond our noon stopping time! Stay tuned for another Roundtable Discussion later this year and scroll down to read about an upcoming event on Feb. 10 to learn from an expert and discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict, a topic many Civitas students have said they want to discuss.
|
|
Meet a real UN Peacekeeper THIS SATURDAY, January 27, 2024!
Civitas is pleased to have Roel Harryvan, a former UN Peacekeepr through the Royal Netherlands Army, talk to students on Saturday, January 27 from 10:00 am until noon at Crossroads College Preparatory School. Roel and his family have lived in St. Louis since 1995 so Roel could be the Honorary Consul for the Netherlands, his home country, covering Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Join us to hear Roel talk about all of his adventures, both as a UN Peacekeeper and as an Honorary Consul. Roel will share updates of current UN Peacekeeping endeavors and answer any questions you have about his past and current experiences working to bridge cultures and foster peace.
Click here to sign up for this exciting guest speaker on Saturday, January 27.
* * *
Background information on UN Peacekeeping Missions -- research by Civitas Students
Click the link with each article to navigate to the full text
UN Peacekeepers in Balkans in 1990s
by Emily Nguyen; Liberty High School, 2026
The Bosnian War began in 1992, arising from ethno-nationalistic tensions between the Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, regarding their independence from Yugoslavia. (continue reading)
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
by Augustus Farrell; St. Francis Borgia, 2026
Yugoslavia consisted of six constituent republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. (continue reading)
|
|
Earn a Game Changer Point and Kick-Off Black History Month!
Civitas students have been personally invited by Wash U to hear NY Times Bestselling Author, Heather McGhee, speak on Feb. 1.
The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity at Washington University, directed by Dr. Darrell Hudson, has arranged for Heather to speak for free at Graham Chapel on the Campus of Wash U to all who are interested in hearing a national thought leader dedicated to equity. Civitas has been gifted 50 copies of Heather's most recent book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together to give students who are interested in hearing Heather talk. Additionally, 5-10 students are invited to attend a smaller gathering at 3:00 on Feb. 1 and have the opportunity to engage with Heather directly. If you are interested in attending the earlier event, you can tell us on the signup form. (Civitas and Wash U will help you with the possibility of needing to leave school early to arrive by 3:00 pm on a Thursday.)
Some additional info about Heather:
Over her career in public policy, Heather McGhee has crafted legislation, testified before Congress, and helped shape presidential campaign platforms. Her book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, spent 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was longlisted for the National Book Award and Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. The New York Times called it, “The book that should change how progressives talk about race” and the Chicago Tribune said, “Required reading to move the country forward...”. It is a Washington Post and TIME Magazine Must-Read Book of 2021. Starting at Fairgrounds Park in North St. Louis City, where a riot was sparked after the first Black St. Louis residents attempted to swim at a newly desegregated pool at Fairgrounds Park, McGhee chronicles the sobering history of divide and inequity across the United States. However, she implores the reader to reframe equity, moving away from a “zero sum” mindset to an inclusive perspective in which everyone can thrive.
Click here to sign up for this exciting opportunity to hear Heather McGhee on February 1, 2024!
|
|
|
|
Heather McGhee on CBS Morning
|
|
Join Us to Untangle the History of Israel and Palestine
` 
Since so many students have expressed interest in discussing and learning about the Israel/Palestine conflict, Civitas has scheduled a special event on Saturday, February 10 with Dr. Warren Rosenblum, Professor of History at Webster University, that will  center around student questions and concerns. Dr. Rosenblum has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share on the topic, so he will present a brief history of all that has led to today's War in Gaza, including the involvement of the United Nations and the United States, and then focus on what students want to know. Please consider attending this great opportunity at Crossroads College Preparatory (MAP) to learn facts and explore possible solutions for an area of the world that has experienced decades of death and destruction. We will meet from 10:00 am until noon.
Click here to sign up.
|
|
Signup for Second Semester HS Model UN Sessions NOW OPEN!
Saturday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, March 2
 ` The new sessions will be held in Winifred Moore Auditorium, accessible through Webster University's Main Hall.
Civitas is excited to offer two more High School Model UN sessions on Saturday, February 17 and Saturday, March 2. Both dates will be morning sessions, 9:00 am until noon. They will be held in a larger venue, the Winifred Moore Auditorium, still on Webster University's campus inside the Main Hall at 470 East Lockwood, 63119. Parking is plentiful across the street, along Lockwood, and behind the building off Plymouth Blvd (MAP).
Some important reminders and points to know:
- Students can sign up individually for either date, or school groups can choose a date to attend together. No need to let us know in advance since the venue is larger. We would appreciate large school groups dividing between the two dates, if possible.
- Students should represent the same countries they had in the fall or another country your school drafted in the fall.
- New students are welcome. If your school did not draft countries in the fall, click here to choose a country that has no school name(s) next to it, preferably before you sign up.
- There will most likely be some duplicate country delegations. We will have separate voting placards for duplicates.
- If you submitted a resolution in the fall that was not discussed, it will have priority on the list. However, please review it/revise it and resubmit it to Stephanie (gavinstephanie89@gmail.com) by midnight on the Tuesday before the session you're attending.
- New resolutions are welcomed and encouraged.
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, January 27, 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Crossroads College Preparatory (MAP)
Meet a Real UN Peacekeeper!
Sign up here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, February 1, 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm at Graham Chapel on the Washington University campus. (MAP)
Hear author, Heather McGhee, speak about racism.
Sign up here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, February 10, 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Crossroads College Preparatory (MAP)
A Brief History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict and Q & A with Dr. Warren Rosenblum
Sign up here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, February 17, 9:00 am until noon at Webster University in Winifred Moore Auditorium. (MAP)
Winter Session HS Model UN, Session A
Sign up here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, March 2, 9:00 am until noon at Webster University in Winifred Moore Auditorium. (MAP)
Winter Session HS Model UN, Session B
Sign up here.
|
|
|
|
|
