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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Children & Youth, Citizen Participation, Education, Elementary & Secondary Schools, Literacy, Youth Development - Citizenship
Mission: More than a mock vote, Kids Voting Mecklenburg combines standards-based classroom learning with community experiences to increase civic literacy and learning opportunities. Kids Voting Mecklenburg helps K-12 students succeed in school and develop knowledge, strategies and skills for effective 21st century citizenship and leadership.
Programs: Kids Voting increases civic learning opportunities through an effective combination of standards-based classroom lessons and community civic experiences. This includes:
- Providing civics resources to 5,000 Charlotte-area teachers. Materials are standards-based and aligned to state and national goals in math, reading, writing and social studies. Teacher professional and leadership development is also offered.
- Engaging youth in civics through candidate forums and debates, visits to government meetings, Youth Civics 101 afterschool civics programs, Mecklenburg Youth Voice youth leadership and voice activities and more.
- Enabling students to experience elections by voting on real candidates and issues, visiting real polling sites and participating in community service-learning at voting places.
Over 100,000 Charlotte-area students participated in Kids Voting programs in 2008.