Developing Democratic Citizens in Communities

This workshop describes how 10 communities from across the country used public forums to engage young adults in their communities. The project was a joint partnership with the Kettering Foundation of Dayton, OH. Two of the communities (Birmingham, AL and Oakland, CA) will share their experiences of how young adults lead deliberative forums, addressed important social issues like education, and gained civic and leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their adult life.   3pm Eastern / 12pm Pacific   Presented By     Dr. Wanda Madison Minor https://www.kettering.org/  -  madison.minor@gmail.com Wanda Madison Minor, Ph.D., has led deliberative forums and been engaged with the National Issues Forums for more than 30 years. Currently, she is principal of Madison Minor Group, LLC and research deputy with Kettering Foundation in Dayton, OH. She served on the board of directors of the National Issues Forums Institute and currently is an advisory council member of the Alliance for Positive Youth Development. She is a former adjunct professor at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. She can be reached at madison.minor@gmail.com. Carmelita James Bivens is a former Director of Special Education and currently is the owner of Help-4-You, LLC, a multifaceted corporation that provides educational assistance, financial guidance, advice on purchasing and decorating a dwelling on a budget, assistance in personal management of the elderly or infirm, assistance in writing manuscripts and personal documents, and assistance in creating memorable occasions and events. Her skills and areas of expertise include writing, education, strategic planning, creativity, thinking outside the box, and leading by example. She received a Doctorate in Special Education Administration from The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa and is currently involved with the Alabama Association of Business Women; National Association of Professional Women where she was selected as a 2012/2013 Professional Woman of the Year; Board of Directors for Gateway; Special Olympics; Alabama Grief Support Services; The Dannon Project; the Kettering Foundation and Leadership Birmingham. Her hobbies and interests include traveling when time permits, sports, reading, writing, finding normalcy in what can be very hectic days, and sending notes and letters of inspiration. She is drawn to and passionate about charitable organizations such as Gateway for troubled youth, community charities, and donation of time and resources to school districts and Bible Studies. She co-authored  the book, My Journey: A Memoir of the First African American to Preside over the Alabama Board of Education.