FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Esten Perez
617-496-4009

September 22, 2015 

HARVARD’S INSTITUTE OF POLITICS LEADING NATIONAL EFFORT TO FOSTER YOUTH POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT

Undergraduates from across the country to visit Harvard’s Institute of Politics
for voter registration conference and training

Cambridge, MA – Undergraduates from states across the country will travel to Harvard University this week to participate in an intensive training and conference, led by Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP).  The seminar will feature political practitioners and expert organizers on voter registration and campus political engagement. 

Participating schools are members of Harvard Institute of Politics’ “National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement,” a consortium of twenty-seven colleges and universities aiming to engage and encourage the next generation to improve our communities through bipartisan politics and public service.  National Campaign schools work on their own campus and collaboratively in three key areas: electoral politics; career development in public service; and civic education. 

On Sept. 25-27, the IOP will host National Campaign students from twenty-two states for a conference entitled: “Campus Activation: Increasing Student Voting and Political Engagement.” Students will focus on voter registration outreach techniques.  They will also receive grassroots organizing training and learn to use technology for political engagement.  Conference trainers include professionals with expertise in government, voter mobilization, communications, social media and marketing.  Students will use skills gleaned from conference experts to boost voter registration efforts on their campuses. 

Featured conference speakers include U.S. Congressman (D-MA) and IOP Senior Advisory Committee Member Joe Kennedy III, U.S. Congresswoman (R-NY) and former IOP Student Advisory Committee Vice President Elise Stefanik (via skype), former IOP Director and Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, former National Republican Senatorial Committee Deputy Executive Director (2014 cycle) and former IOP Fellow Matt Lira, Rock the Vote President Ashley Spillane, and political organizer, manager and consultant and former IOP Fellow Teresa Vilmain. 

"The IOP is honored to host students from across the country who will create the future of politics by driving political and civic engagement," said Harvard IOP Director Maggie Williams.  "This conference and training seminar will help foster political participation both here at Harvard and at National Campaign schools throughout the nation."

More information about Harvard Institute of Politics’ National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement:

In addition to taking action to spur student political involvement on their respective campuses, the National Campaign consortium works during the academic year to –

• Issue specific recommendations for government, media, campaigns, and educational institutions to promote political and civic engagement;
• Collect and make available key research; and
• Create new training opportunities for organizations and individuals seeking to promote youth engagement and participation. 

The National Campaign’s twenty-seven consortium schools are: Allegheny College, Arizona State University, Birmingham Southern College, Elon University, Franklin & Marshall College, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Louisiana State University, Ohio State University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Saint Anselm College, Simpson College, Stonehill College, Tennessee State University, Tufts University, University of Chicago, University of Florida, University of Kansas, University of Louisville, University of Oklahoma, University of Rochester, University of Southern California, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Texas, University of Utah, University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University.

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Harvard University’s Institute of Politics (IOP), located at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, was established in 1966 as a memorial to President Kennedy.  The IOP’s mission is to shape the future of politics and public service every day, inspiring undergraduates to lead lives of purpose by committing themselves to the practice of politics, governing, public service and the countless opportunities to make a difference in the world.  More information is available online at www.iop.harvard.edu/.