There is a story that a citizen was asked why the population is so ill-informed and apathetic. He replied, "I DON’T KNOW AND I DON’T CARE."
One of our goals is to counter this attitude. Civitas believes that curiosity, concern, compassion and commitment are four cornerstones of a democracy that allow the majority to rule while protecting the rights of minorities. Robert Kennedy once said, "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" This is what we try to ask of ourselves and those with whom we work.
You know the litany of issues facing the world....nuclear proliferation, genocide, global warming, and a host of others. In our programs, there are two forward gears: thinking and acting.
We think so that we can learn more about the issues that confront our society. We act so that we can effect change. Like the rest of the world, no one at Civitas has a “corner on wisdom,” but we sponsor programs that try to help the disenfranchised and disadvantaged so that they can become full partners in democracy.
On Friday, Februay 20 and Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, Civitas is sponsoring a conference on "The Politics of Green." Students will study and analyze the hurdles to implementing public policy that promotes cleaner energy and more sensitivity and awareness to the environment. We will have more information on the conference in coming weeks.
Our active citizenship programs include:
- Voter registration
- Support for international refugees, particularly Iraqi citizens now in Syria and Jordan.
- Advocacy for the poor, unemployed, ill, and less educated in St. Louis
- Environmental clean-ups
- Support of UNICEF and other international organizations that address the needs of children in developing countries.
- Consumer Protection Projects
We particularly appreciate student-initiated activities. Civitas is a forum and a coordinating organization that helps students from different schools work towards common goals.
- Civitas does not participate in politically partisan or religious activities.