Here is a description of Civitas' "Green Deal" conference on Feb. 20-21.  Below is a link to the application form as well as a listing of forty-two possible roles that students can play in the conference.  By the way, note (in following story) that the second and final prep session for the conference is this Saturday, Feb. 14 at Crossroads.  We currently have room for 14 more students! 

 Sign up today for

“The Civitas GREEN DEAL Conference”

Friday, 5:00 pm -- Saturday, 3:00 pm, February 20-21, 2009

Comfort Inn/Spazio’s – 12031 Lackland Rd., Maryland Heights MO

Green is hot. Everyone talks about America “going green:” developing government policies that help the environment, or reverse environmental damage; and enacting and enforcing laws and regulations to save the planet.

It sounds great. But can it really be done?

What political, economic and social obstacles will have to be overcome to truly turn America green? What will we—as a society and as individuals—have to give up to get there? Who will help, and who will stand in the way?  What compromises will have to be made to work around the obstacles and objections?

These issues will be your focus at Civitas’ 2009 “GREEN DEAL” Conference. Here’s how it works:

• You’ll play the role of someone in government, industry, business, a social/environmental group, a foreign government, etc., who has a point of view on going “green.” [Role choices are on the application form.]
• You’ll be assigned to a committee of 15-20 others, who will discuss and try to reach recommendations on how to make “going green” possible.
• Committees will meet in separate rooms on Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon and, at the end of the conference, share their recommendations with the other committees.
• Your committee may be asked to confront a surprise, emerging environmental crisis. Be ready to shift gears! 

The GREEN DEAL conference is one in a series of similar conferences that Civitas has organized since 2001. It’s a chance to think analytically and creatively, and to interact with new people who share your interest in world issues. 

Cost of the conference, including all meals and materials: $60. We offer generous scholarships, so that anyone can attend.  Space is limited. Deadline for application: Friday, February 13, 2009.

For more information, call Arthur Lieber, 314-367-6480 or e-mail info@civitas-stl.com.

You can sign-up on-line by clicking here.

Roles:

 

Sierra Club Executive Director	Exxon-Mobil CEO	Peabody Coal Co. CEO
Dave Sinclair [U.S. auto dealer]	Organic farmer	U.S. Nuclear Regulatory agency chair
Tom Seeger [Toyota dealer]	UN Environmental Programme	Disney planned community developer
United Auto Workers leader	World Wildlife Fund Executive	Hurricane Katrina survivor
Environment Protection Agency	U.S. Senator from California	Logging industry executive
Solar panel manufacturer	U.S. Senator from Louisiana	Ameren UE nuclear plant director
Windmill manufacturer	Non-believer in global warming	Chinese ambassador to U.S.
Smurfit-Stone Recycling Company	Environmental scientist	Wal-Mart  CEO
Doctor specializing in cancer	High-school environmental club	New York Stock Exchange chairman
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Meteorologist	CEO of Waste Management Co.
U.S. Public Health Service Director	Marine biologist	Pediatrician
Parent of a 3-year-old child	High-school science teacher	U.S. Treasury chairman
Congressman Robert Wexler [D-FL]	U.S. Internal Revenue Director	Solar panel manufacturer
Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-Maine]	Organic farmer	"Factory" farmer [pigs]

Reminder, you can sign-up on-line by clicking here. 

Click here for link to permission form.

Civitas Students to Participate in Black History
program sponsored with History Museum and
St. Louis Rams 

The St. Louis Rams, Missouri History Museum, and Civitas are sponsoring a special program for Black History month.  It will most likely be on Thursday, February 26, at the History Museum from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

Students from the following schools will be participating: Crossroads, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Metro, Miller Career Academy, Rosati-Kain, S.L.U.H., Soldan, University City, and Webster Groves.

What will make the program unique is how interactive it will be.  Following a film featuring clips of President Barack Obama's remarks in Grant Park on Election night and a tour of the museum's "St. Louis in Black and White" exhibit, there will be a panel discussion with 'Q&As' followed by small group discussions (approx. eight students per group), and then reports from each group to the entire group.

Panelists & Breakout Session Facilitators will include:

• Chris Draft, Linebacker, St. Louis Rams -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Reena Hajat, Director, Diversity Awareness Partnership [Facilitator]
• Priscilla Hill-Ardoin, community activist -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Alvin Reid, City Editor, St. Louis American [Panelist]
• Jamala Rogers, Director, Organization for Black Struggle -- confirmed [Panelist]
• Dr. Jonathan Smith, Professor, St. Louis U. -- confirmed [Panelist] 
• Bob Wallace, Executive VP, St. Louis Rams -- confirmed [Panelist]

Thanks so much to a remarkable coordinating committee that includes:

St. Louis Rams: Evan Ardoin, Cassidy Cleveland, Michael Yarbrough
Missouri History Museum: Melanie Adams, Alex Detrick