Exploring Empathy and Engagement with Sydnee Maberry
It was a chilly, cozy evening last Thursday when students arrived for a Roundtable Discussion at the Webster Groves Public Library. 10 high schools were represented in the attendance, including students from far west StL County, north StL County, St. Louis City, and even Illinois. The highlight of the night was the presentation from Sydnee Maberry, LMSW, who talked about LGBTQ+ rights and concerns and  issues. She ended her conversation with ways we can all be welcoming and supportive of people from all communities, keeping in mind that over 20 million people in the United States identify as LGBTQ+. If you would like to know more about what she shared, click here to view the visual presentaton she showed.
The second hour of the night included casual discussions on a variety of topics. Social media influences and temptations came up again, a topic that generates passionate opinions. The recent debacle over the House Speaker was discussed and China/U.S. relations were also talked about. It was another fun and enlightening gathering of students with a lot to share. We plan to schedule another Roundtable Discussion soon after our next two upcoming events. Stay tuned!
Photos from the event and Sydnee's presentation can be found here.
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Where Have all the Streetcars Gone?
Why was the Loop Trolley a failure? Why don't trains stop at Union Station anymore? What used to be on the Arch grounds? Why is Downtown dead? Where did all the streetcars go? Join Civitas alum and St. Olaf Senior Gabe Lepak for a conversation on American urbanism in the past 100 years as we answer these questions and more while we examine the policies, events, and players behind the way our neighborhoods are designed.
This fun event will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023, 1:00 pm--3:00 pm, (while Gabe is still home on winter break!) at Grant's View Library (9700 Musick Rd., St. Louis, MO 63123).
Click here to sign up now.
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Tour the St. Louis Holocaust Museum on Feb. 12!
The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum (12 Millstone Campus Dr., Creve Coeur 63146) reopened last month after a huge renovation and expansion that quadrupled its size. As promised, Civitas has arranged for a Sunday afternoon guided tour of the new museum on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. Tickets will be free for Civitas students who sign up. We'll meet at the museum at 12:45 so we can all go through their required security before our 1:00 pm tour start time. With anti-Semitism on the rise again in our country, now is a very important time to refresh our knowledge of the Holocaust.
Click here to sign up for the tour.
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Interested in a Civitas Book Club?
Excellent books are being written for young people today, some of which, unfortunately, are not readily available in area high schools. As a follow-up to Sydnee Maberry's talk and discussion last week, we have selected a young adult novel by a debut author, We Deserve Monuments written by Jas Hammonds, to discuss in late February/early March. We imagine a lot of students being interested in this compelling novel about 17-year old Avery, who is Black and gay, being uprooted from her urban Washington D.C. life and school to rural Georgia for her senior year. If you would like to be a part of the book discussion, please click here to sign up and indicate your preferred setting and time. We're considering a Zoom discussion or an in-person discussion, but we want to hear from you. After hearing from some of you, Civitas will schedule the discussion date and location and post it in our newsletter and on our website by the end of the month.
To listen to a short NPR interview with the author of We Deserve Monuments, click here.
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Mark your calendars for High School Model UN spring sessions on April 1 and April 15!
What we know:
- Both of the Saturday sessions on April 1 and April 15 will be in the morning, 9:00 am until noon.
- Both will be held at Browning Auditorium at Webster University (same location as fall).
- Students can attend either session on their own; no need to be a part of a school group.
- Sign up to represent the same country you had in the fall; if there are duplicates, we'll notify you of options.
- If you did not participate in the fall, you are welcome to attend a spring session. Contact Stephanie at gavinstephanie89@gmail.com for a list of available countries.
- Priority will be given to seniors for resolution order of discussion.
- More information and the signup form coming soon!
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Saturday, February 4, 2023, 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm at Grant's View Library
"Where did all the streetcars go?"--Gabe Lepak, a former Civitas intern and current senior at St. Olaf College, will share interesting, political choices made in the making of American neighborhoods.
Sign up here!
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Sunday, February 12, 2023, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm a tour of the St. Louis Holocaust Museum
Meet at the St. Louis Holocaust Museum at 12:45 to check in for a guided tour and discussion.
Sign up here!
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A date in late February/early March: Book discussion of We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds.
After a few people sign up and share their preferences, we'll announce a date and place.
Click here to sign up and share your preferred times/venues.
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Saturday, April 1, 2023, 9:00 am until noon, High School Model UN at Webster University
Sign up coming soon!
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Saturday, April 15, 2023, 9:00 am until noon, High School Model UN at Webster University
Sign up coming soon!
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Several people had to be rescued after two vehicles fell into this sinkhole in Chatsworth, California, on Tuesday, January 10. David Swanson/Reuters
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This past week at the United Nations
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