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Civitas Associates is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization offering educational programs for students in public and independent schools. Our activities foster global awareness and encourage students to become more active citizens of the world and in their local communities. Civitas has served St. Louis-area students and teachers since 1991.
Civitas United Nations programs
In Civitas United Nations programs, students simulate the roles of U.N. delegates from various countries. They study global economics, human rights, and political issues, develop U.N.-style resolutions to address them, and present their resolutions for discussion and voting at simulated General Assembly sessions. Each year, more than 300 high school students and 1,000 middle school students participate.
For high school students, we offer two area-wide United Nations sessions in St. Louis during the school year. We also offer two smaller, weekend seminars focused on a single issue or region of the world. Complementing these events are informal discussion groups, social events and an annual picnic.
Our Middle School United Nations program introduces younger students to global issues. Civitas staff visits each participating school twice during the academic year, helping students to discuss international problems, initiate research, and write U.N.-style resolutions. Culminating the program is a series of simulated General Assembly sessions, led by Civitas staff, at which students from several schools meet to debate and vote on resolutions they have developed.
Civitas Urban Studies program
In 2002, we initiated a high-school program designed to promote awareness of local and regional issues. In 2003, eleven highly motivated students ventured beyond the classroom to investigate urban issues. Their learning lab is the St. Louis region. They visit city halls, redevelopment areas, banks and planning agencies. To gather information, they interview elected officials, planning professionals, residential and commercial developers, bankers, shopkeepers and people on the street. Subjects under study can range from sprawl and local economic trends to transportation, education, or poverty and wealth.
The Urban Studies program culminates in an Urban Council, in which students, playing the roles of people and organizations affected by urban issues, attempt to formulate statements of principle and action to address the problems they have been studying.
Support for students and teachers
We try to make participation in Civitas programs easy for schools and teachers. We offer extensive support in preparation for Civitas United Nations sessions, through introductory workshops and simulations. Our web site (www.civitas-stl.com) provides a wide range of resource materials, including an on-line United Nations tutorial appropriate for high-school and middle-school students. In addition, we communicate frequently with participating students and teachers via our on-line newsletter. For the Middle School program, Civitas staff conducts the in-class and combined sessions, provides introductory materials, and coordinates scheduling.
Civitas College Counselling & Scholarship Program
For high-school juniors and seniors who might benefit from supplemental college counselling services, Civitas offers a special seminar each September. A panel of college-guidance professionals and scholarship advisers offers information about college admissions, applications and financial aid. After the presentation, they meet one-to-one with students to answer specific questions. Civitas also funds individual, follow-up sessions for selected students.
Each year, Civitas awards financial scholarships to 10 to 15 high-school students who have demonstrated outstanding attendance and participation in our programs.
Civitas “style”
In the conventional school setting, many students find it difficult to engage in open, honest communication. We have seen too many teenagers who feel constrained about discussing with adults the personal and societal issues that are important to them.
Our way of addressing this issue is to create an informal atmosphere that nurtures open communication, mutual respect and self-esteem. Civitas programs are characterized by common sense rules of communication. We emphasize substance in human relations, rather than image, style and procedure. And we expect staff to practice these values as they work with students in our programs.
Each year, 30 to 40 high-school participants evolve into an informal core group, developing a true bond with one another. They attend most of our activities and become role models for engagement, kindness, courtesy, humor, flexibility, and respectful communication. We measure our success by the extent to which they and other participants embrace these values in their overall mode of living.
Civitas Associates
Civitas Associates
10845 Olive, Suite #155
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Phone: (314) 367-6480
Fax: (314) 367-7742
E-Mail: civitas@swbell.net
Web Site:
www.civitas-stl.com