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In today's Civitas newsletter:
NOTE: This is the second of two special summer e-newsletters from Civitas. It features content from our summer interns.
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 Civitas Summer Internships Continues
Summer is a very active time for Civitas as college and high school interns collaborate on research projects related to our local community and beyond.
Below are five essays from interns on the Tuesday-Friday group.
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Provel & Politics: Producing a Podcast & Finding a Different Perspective
by Reece Ellis; Hazelwood East, 2017; Truman State University, 2021
There are a lot of podcasts available for the listening pleasures of the masses on a variety of subjects. There are podcasts on very broad topics like sports and more niche subjects like woodworking or coin collecting and there's even an entire podcast dedicated to Herman Melville's 1851 novel
Moby Dick. However, one topic seems to have saturated the market, politics, and specifically left leaning podcasts hosted by white men of a certain age living in coastal cities. While a few of these programs are fairly representative of my politics, they are less representative of my experiences as it relates to my identity and the same was true of my co-intern (and good friend) Maggie Hannick. So, Maggie and I endeavored to create something that incorporated the ideas of people not typically represented in political podcast format: women, African-Americans, and Midwesterners. The result, our podcast called "Provel & Politics," is something that makes both of us proud.
There are a couple things nobody ever tells you about making a podcast or really producing any kind of media. The first is that you become infinitely more conscious of the words that you say and the natural silences that arise in conversation are longer than they appear. There is something about the knowledge that you are being recorded and your words will be transmitted back to an audience that can create something like an obsessive quality in yourself trying to figure out how to find the perfect balance of being insightful yet not lecturing and well-spoken yet concise. What one finds is that no such perfection exists, and everyone will consistently be more satisfied with the eventual product than the creators are. The second more important lesson you learn is just how loud things are and by that I don't just mean any particular voice, but breathing, the HVAC system, the fizz from an open soda, or even a microwave beep from an office away. The world is simply full of sound and any decent microphone, much to the chagrin of any content creator, is able to catch all of it.
It's important to embark on a journey with the intention to learn or to grow or to gain something that was not yours before and that is true even when referring to a journey in a more literal sense like a walk to the top of a mountain to dispose of a ring or learning an instrument. "Provel & Politics," has been a journey of sorts and I'm still learning what I'm learning. What I've gathered so far is an appreciation of the freedom to preserve the thoughts that are usually reserved for long solitary car rides spent listening to NPR. or a fleeting idea brought about when reading the news. I've also managed to learn more about myself and what I believe. Since I've been in college I've co-hosted a political talk show with my counterparts in the College Republicans, but that is different from this podcast. In that show, although it is ironically called "Across the Aisle," the goal is not to build consensus or bridge gaps so much as it is talk through one another and hold up ideologically rigid (and usually flawed) arguments about why the opposing side is full of heretics and are degrading our country. "Provel & Politics" allows us to be more idiosyncratic and I don't feel like there's anything to prove or to accomplish except conversation for conversation's sake. It goes without saying that I've also gained a greater appreciation for Maggie. I'm curious to see what changes as we become more comfortable and experienced with the medium, at the very least hopefully our production quality, as I become more acquainted with editing software. At the most, we'll gain a captive audience.
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How to be more involved in state government
by Isabella Reed; Francis Howell High School, 2020
Throughout history and in today's age we have seen countless movements protesting many sides of national issues - be it the pro-temperance feminists of the Gilded Age to the March For Our Lives students today. Issues spread across the nation can cause huge uproars of activism and subsequent change. But in focusing on these national issues, we forget about one significant entity in all of our lives: state governments. Now, I get it. State government definitely does not have the shine and glamour of national government. They don't seem to have nearly as much power as the national government does, and issues on a national level affect more people, so they seem much more important. This perceived lack of power and effect combined with considerably lower amounts of media coverage, especially by national media sources, builds a divide between many citizens and governments that are supposed to be closer to
them.
Now, how can we bridge this divide? It's simple! We just have to be aware of how we can incorporate state (and even local) governments in our activism. I've done a ton of research on the Missouri State Legislature this summer with Civitas, so I have compiled a short list of tips and tricks that can help you to become more involved in your state's decisions.
- Be aware of who your representatives are! Here is a link to find this out, if you don't know already.
- Remember: these are people. It is very easy to be intimidated by your representatives simply because they are politicians. But I urge you to remember that they are human, too. In my experience, they are usually very nice, even if you disagree with them on key issues.
- Pro tip: House members are more likely to respond quickly than Senators. Not to say you shouldn't contact your Senator. Senators just serve larger electorates, so they have more things to read over, plus most things go through their assistants and secretaries.
- Pay attention to state issues. No, I am not going to tell you to keep every single bill going through the legislature- that would be way too much. But if you see something on social media, if something catches your eye on local news, speak up about it! Email or call your local representatives - your voice could be the difference between them voting for or against a measure. Remember- they are REPRESENTATIVE of you and your community.
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Why People Should Study Abroad
Emily Scott; Francis Howell High School, 2020
It's so expensive to travel. The world is a dangerous place right now. Studying abroad can interrupt schooling. These are all excuses I've heard when someone encourages me to stay in the United States for my entire school career, but in my experience, all of those statements should be ignored. In the summer of 2018, I spent a month studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea and honestly, it was the best experience of my life. I've also been to multiple countries in Europe, and throughout my travels I've come up with three reasons why everyone should study abroad in their lifetime.
- Cultural Learning and Growth: Too often we Americans are shut off from the rest of the world. In an age where it seems to be nationalism or die, the average American seemingly doesn't care about the traditions and customs of other cultures. Whether it's on purpose or subconscious, it happens to most. One easy way to fix this is to place yourself in the midst of another culture with no way to avoid it. Studying abroad also gives you more of an inside look at the way of life than simply visiting there on vacation.
- Independence: Most of the time when you study abroad, you typically don't know a whole lot of people you are traveling with, especially if you do an exchange program since you aren't traveling with a group. Doing such a major life event without your same cast of characters allows your sense of independence to come out of its shell.
- Making Connections: Whether you stay with a host family or at a university as I did, you will make connections with the people in the country you are visiting. From locals to students to your host family, those relationships you create will stick with you for years if not your whole life. It's also just cool to say that you have friends in another country, so that's another perk too.
So to those who are told not to study abroad, disregard those excuses. To those who haven't even thought about schooling in another country, start looking into it. And to those who are against studying abroad, maybe rethink the reasons why.
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Dirty Jobs
Riley Weber; Francis Howell High School, 2020
The average person has worked in a stereotypical high school job in America. Either working in the food industry or retail is a section of the normal high school experience. These jobs are great ways to make money, fill an empty spot on a resume, or learn how to deal with difficult people. Though most teenagers would much rather find ways to avoid these jobs, they are necessary to understand the "value of hard work". Every job requires people to learn how to be on time, complete tasks, and just do what is expected of them without being asked. While some of these habits can be achieved through household chores or school, they do not have as strong of an effect as when an employer is dependent on the person.
Retail is one of the jobs that is considered the cleanest teenage jobs, but one of the most annoying. Whether dealing with rude customers or learning how to fold clothes correctly, the experience forces teens to learn how to deal with others. Working in fast food also gives teens a tougher skin in dealing with others. Once being yelled at about French fry temperature and cook times becomes an everyday occurrence, rude words no longer hold as much value. Along with no longer caring what others think of you, working in the food industry provides an insight into what goes on in the kitchen. After experiencing difficulties in cooking and cleaning a restaurant, teens grow to respect other food workers as being more patient when using their services.
These two areas are honestly jobs that gross me out the most. Cleaning bathrooms and cooking food are bound to ruin fast food and malls for me forever. I have never personally worked in either of these areas. However, it's not the actual work that provides growth and developed responsibilities. Any mind-numbing job can provide those responsibilities. Mowing in repeated lines, cleaning up feces, washing dishes, all force people to talk to those around them lest they die of boredom. Any kind of job forces an expansion not only of people's social groups but their ability to socialize as well. Whether it's for money or volunteer, jobs like this force an expansion of social skills and responsibilities.
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The Power of Name Recognition
by Addison Steinbach; Crossroads College Preparatory School, 2021
The Democratic Primaries for president are already in full swing. The candidates are trying to do anything they can to step over one another, just to get something that has become crucial in this day and age, name recognition. Without name recognition, it is hard for any candidate to educate people that are unaware of who they are, and what they stand for.
I explored this problem, using a poll that allowed a person to choose three candidates they were the most familiar with, and three they were the least familiar with. Let's start with the least familiar candidates currently. There are many candidates in the Democratic field this year, so that alone created many names that are quite unknown. The three candidates with the least recognition are Senator Michael Bennet, Governor Steve Bullock and Former Senator Mike Gravel. These three candidates all share a similar background, although not on the policy front. All are statewide officials who are generally unknown outside of their western state. Same could be said for John Hickenlooper, who is also a 2020 candidate. Bullock is from Montana, so he has a huge disadvantage when it comes to trying to spread his name. Not a great starting state. Mike Gravel is from Alaska, which is likely worse than Montana thanks to its location. To make matters worse, poor Mike Gravel hasn't served in public office since the 80s, so he is long past his prime, despite his very interesting policies. Michael Bennet is also in a tough situation. Although he doesn't have a terrible starting spot (Colorado is pretty good), he has a bigger problem. John Hickenlooper. Hickenlooper is the very popular Former Governor of Colorado, and more widely recognized than his partner in the senate.
When it comes to more widely recognized people, it is much more predictable. If you just generally go online and read CNN, you are almost guaranteed to find an article praising them, or possibly criticizing them. In our case, the top two most well-known people are in by no way a surprise, former Vice President Joe Biden, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Both have had very good name recognition in the past; Biden as a VP, Sanders as a primary challenger to Hillary Clinton in 2016. Our third most recognized candidate is Elizabeth Warren, which is again, no surprise, as her policies dominate the front page. All three of these have many things in common. For one, they are always in the public spotlight, and have been before this. One problem that candidates such as these have is the continued publicity. Joe Biden, for example, has continually stumbled in his current spotlight. This has left the media to find and analyze every weak point of his campaign, past and present, unlike many of the lesser known candidates. Each of them has served important roles in the past, all of which indicate why they are so high.
If we compare each of these three candidates and their current poll numbers, we can find a divide that only continues to plague the lesser known candidates. Biden, Sanders and Warren all find themselves towards the top 4-5 of the polls, while Bennet, Gravel and Bullock all find themselves towards the bottom. The difference in the polls for these people only enforces the disadvantage that continues to plague most of the Democratic field.
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Pursuing pre-collegiate and collegiate experiences
by Daria Nastasia; Lindbergh High School, 2021
Pursuing pre-collegiate and collegiate experiences is important for high school students. In addition to ensuring preparedness and knowledge for the actual university years, these experiences build a high school student's resume and help in the college application process. Universities prefer to enroll students that are ready for their courses and additional activities from day one and having gone through pre-collegiate and collegiate programs in high school is a way to demonstrate readiness.
Due to the support from my parents as well as guidance from some teachers, I have been fortunate to participate in multiple pre-collegiate and collegiate experience during my high school years. In the summers right before freshman year and between freshman and sophomore year, I participated in the Joseph Baldwin Academy at Truman State University, the first time taking journalism courses and the second time learning about business. During my sophomore and junior year, I participated in the year-round Bridge Program at UMSL, in which high school students attend classes on campus several times a month to improve their knowledge of English, Math, and Science, and for college and career exploration. In the summer after my sophomore year I participated in the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC), a collegiate program for high school students at George Mason University. Finally, this year I am participating in the Media and Politics program for college credit organized by Junior State of America (JSA) at Georgetown University.
Being in Washington, D.C. for collegiate programs last year and this year has meant that I could live on two college campuses in the capital of our nation and I could take college credits while in high school. However, my participation in WJMC at George Mason University in summer 2018 and in the JSA Media and Politics program at Georgetown University in summer 2019 has meant so much more. I have been able to hear extraordinary speakers from among professionals in journalism and government. I have been able to not only visit the U.S. Congress, Department of State, White House, and several embassies, but also to interact with experts who work for these institutions and learn from them firsthand. I have been able to visit the Newseum as well as the National Archives. I have encountered other high school students from across the nation and, in addition in sitting in courses with them, I engaged in debates on social, political, and environmental issues of our time. I have also formed friendships that will last long after we leave campus, perhaps for a lifetime.
I believe that I have grown tremendously as a person and as a student in the past two weeks at Georgetown University, and I am very much looking forward to the last week of this intense and extraordinarily informative program. I encourage other high school students to seek to pursue pre-collegiate and collegiate programs, choosing from among the thousands that are available throughout the United States and around the world that give students even as young as seventh grade the chance to live and learn on a college campus. Students who take part in such program will be able to learn about various fields of study, about where they would like to go to college, about important problems that impact our lives, as well as about themselves.
Some of these summer programs, including the one that I am currently attending, cost a significant amount of money. However, there are options to attend with at least partial scholarship and there is also fundraising support from organizers, so financial considerations do not have to deter participation. Additionally, other programs are low cost or free of cost, and only require an application process, such as the UMSL Bridge Program. Given the help that such programs provide in the college application process and or college readiness, they are worthy pursuits. The pre-collegiate and collegiate programs I have been through have allowed me to feel much more prepared for attending a university, which is merely one year away.
According to a survey administered by the nonprofit organization YouthTruth, only half of United States students say that they feel prepared for college. This percentage could be significantly increased if more high school students were made aware of pre-collegiate and collegiate programs and encouraged to apply to such programs. These programs provide knowledge for high school students of what college actually means, helping them explore professional areas and interact with professors, other professionals, and students.
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Civitas Summer Book Club
Civitas interns are reading
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson as one of their many responsibilities this summer. We would like to extend the opportunity to all Civitas students to join us for our final breakfast book discussion for the book
Just Mercy is a compelling, interesting read about Bryan Stevenson's experiences helping wrongly condemned prisoners, some of whom were on death row for heinous crimes they did not commit. An especially poignant story is that of Walter McMillian, a man with no criminal history, who is sentenced to die for a murder that he has no connection to whatsoever. Walter has a list of evidence proving he had nothing to do with the murder, but a motivated police force wanting closure to a high-profile case and a testimony by a criminal wanting to reduce his own sentence for an unrelated crime, are against him. The movie version of the book is in production starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, scheduled for release in January, 2020.
We already met to discuss chapters 1-8 of
Just Mercy on Monday, July 1 AND Tuesday, July 2 from 9:00 am-11:00 am. However, if you were unable to make one of those discussion dates, we will meet again to discuss the book as a whole on Monday, August 5 from 12:30 pm-2:30 pm. You can choose either date to attend.
If you would like to join us to discuss
Just Mercy in August, please sign up
here.
We still have a couple of extra copies of the book if you'd like to stop by the office and borrow one.
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Picture of the Week
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The Washington Monument is the backdrop for an image of the Saturn V rocket that launched Apollo missions to the Earth's Moon
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This past week at the United Nations
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Calendar:
Black: High School
Blue:
Middle School
NOTE: All Civitas Activities are free of charge
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Date
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Time
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Activity
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Where
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2019
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2019
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2019
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2019
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Monday, August 5 & Tuesday, August 6
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9:00 - 11:00 AM
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Continuation of Summer Book Club on Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
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Civitas Hub; 10845 Olive Blvd., Suite #155; 63141 (
map)
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Saturday, August 24 & Sunday,
August 25
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Festival of Nations --Civitas Booth
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Tower Grove Park -- east end (map)
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Saturday,
September 7
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9:00 -
11:00 AM
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Opening High School Event of School Year -- ACLU on student rights and minority rights
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Civitas Hub; 10845 Olive Blvd., Suite #155; 63141 (map)
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Important Civitas
Links
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STAY CONNECTED
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