Kids Voting Mecklenburg County Information Session December 11, 2006

Overview Nonprofit, nonpartisan (501c3) National organization: Kids Voting USA Based in Tempe, AZ - moving HQ to Washington in 2007 Affiliates in 26 states KV Mecklenburg one of largest successful programs –KVUSA growth strategy

What does Kids Voting do? Educates K-12 students about –Citizenship –Civic Involvement –Election Process Through –Classroom Lessons –Community Civic Activities –Interaction with Public Officials –Authentic Election Experiences

Mecklenburg County Impact Available to all K-12 students 200 Schools Approx. 6,000 classrooms and teachers 2,500 volunteers Parents, PTAs, Public Officials Over 27,000 voters in Election 2006 Kids Voting has invested $1.5 Million in local civic education since 1992

History: National organization Rolfe Neill (Former Observer publisher) –Brought KV to Charlotte and NC in 1992 Knight Foundation, others = seed funding 1996: Raleigh and Greensboro –Kids Voting of North Carolina formed in 1997 to manage expansion

History: Election programs, curriculum, teacher training and various events Amy Farrell joins Kids Voting to direct development and community relations –Funding sources diversified and expanded KV experiences internal challenges with financial management and planning Amy Farrell hired as ED in 2001

History: Complete reorganization Board and program review and strengthening –Expanding and adding programs directly related to core mission; cut others –Reorganization of BOD; expanding in 2007 –Increasing and strengthening partnerships Raising profile within community Prelim. strategic planning with Anne Udall –Lee Institute/Daughter of Senator Mo Udall Participate in Building Better Boards Phase I Establishing cash reserve

Kids Voting: Governance Currently 10 members Expanding to members by 2008 Leadership –Interim Chair - Mack Gadsden –Vice Chair, Finance/Operations - Lillian McRae –Vice Chair, Governance - Doug Benson Position open effective 1/1/2007 –Vice Chair, Programs/Outreach - Corby Anderson –Each vice chair leads a committee

Kids Voting: Governance Committee Structure –Finance & Operations Finance and Business Operations Oversee Resource Development –Governance Nominating Board Development Legal –Programs Classroom and Community Education & Election Special Events/Outreach Youth Engagement

Kids Voting: Finance & Operations 2006 Budget = $130,000 Approximately $1 per student Funding sources –Government –Foundation –Corporate –Individual –Inkind 90%+ allocated to programs

Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach In the Classroom –Classroom lessons provided to 6,000 teachers in K-12 National curriculum: Classroom Activities Alignment to NC Standard Course of Study in K-8 math, language arts and social studies, World History, Civics & Economics and US History Local teacher’s guide Variety of civic education materials –Kids Voting School Representatives Leadership role designated by principal Attend teacher training and receive credit for work Coordinate Kids Voting at their schools –School partnerships and relationships Continual evaluation, assessment and strengthening

Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach In the Community –Ongoing civic activities for students including Mecklenburg Youth Voice –Special initiative of KV - high school students meet regularly to discuss student issues; meets bimonthly with Dr. Peter Gorman Youth Civics 101 –Partnership with League of Women Voters –Teens visit and learn about government –Organization of youth events Candidate Forum for Youth Youth Forum with CMS Task Force and visit to Superintendent Forum Visits to government meetings

Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach In the Community (continued) –Interaction with Public Officials Coordinate school visits with officials Visits to Government Center, courthouse, Observer, etc. –Partnerships and Collaborations –Community Outreach and Media Relations Local newspapers Interviewed on Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins, The John Hancock Show and others; WBT Hometown Hero State and national recognition

Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach Experiencing Elections –NC legislation allows KV to operate where adults vote –Students experience elections and vote on Kids Voting ballots - same races as adult voters plus student questions –Available to all students - variety of options Online Voting - Accenture - National Partner in e-voting Early Voting in libraries - Future partnership with library? Voting in Election Day Precincts Voting “absentee” at school Service-learning - approx. 2,000 student poll volunteers –27,000+ student voters in Election 2006 –40,000+ in Election 2004 –Over 250,000 since 1992

Kids Voting: Challenges Adult voter and civic apathy Regional economy Changing school strategies and populations Growth Competition with other programs Technology Raising $ and awareness for an educational program vs. a charity

Kids Voting: Goals Excite kids about voting and civics Create regional opportunities Address changing school strategies and populations Expand programs and service area Identify and strengthen key strategic partnerships & alliances Use technology to enhance KV’s programs, efficiency and effectiveness Develop resources and raise awareness needed to fulfill Kids Voting’s mission

Contact Kids Voting Mack Gadsden, Chair – (office); (cell) Amy Farrell, Executive Director – –Kids Voting office 700 East Stonewall Street, Suite 710 Charlotte NC, 28202