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RU Ready is a unique initiative created by the Eagleton Institute of Politics in 2007 to engage the senior class of New Brunswick High School (NBHS) in the political process. RU Ready’s mission is to provide young people with encouragement and practical advice to enable them to participate actively in the civic life of New Brunswick.
Students creating a poster about the millennial generation.
RU Ready consists of a series of interactive lessons throughout the academic year directed towards the senior class as they prepare to graduate and enter the civic community as adults. The academic year is capped off with a “Young Leaders Conference” held at the Eagleton Institute for a selection of the high school students. Initiated during the 2008-2009 academic year, the in-class lessons and conference have been complemented by leadership training of the executive board of NBHS’s student council. At the core of RU Ready is a team of carefully-selected Rutgers students who prepare and administer all components of the project.
As we look ahead to the future, we seek to further the work of RU Ready by extending the RU Ready experience beyond the senior year and by building a network of young people seeking to make a difference in the New Brunswick community. Through a network of both NBHS students who have experienced RU Ready and Rutgers students who have worked on the project, Eagleton intends to serve as a source of information regarding civic engagement in New Brunswick and beyond; to mentor these young people as they begin to exercise their leadership potential; and to offer the training needed to become involved in community organizations, to seek appointed positions, and even run for public office.
RU Ready consists of the following components:
- In-class interactive sessions
A series of three interactive sessions throughout the academic year directed towards the senior class of New Brunswick High School conducted by the RU Ready team of Rutgers students.
- “Because Politics Matters” - Through small group discussions, seniors are introduced to the idea that politics matters in the everyday lives of young people and that there are numerous avenues for community involvement beyond voting.
- “All Politics is Local” – Students explore issues facing their community and, through role-playing, devise solutions to fictitious problems within New Brunswick.
- “Voting 101” - Students are guided through the mechanics of participating in the electoral process by participating in a simulation of a presidential campaign. Students run for office, devise a party platform, engage in a mock debate, deliver speeches, participate in a series of public opinion polls, and cast ballots. This session is complemented with a voter registration drive for those seniors eligible and interested in registering.
Young Leaders Conference October 19, 2010
- “Young Leaders Conference”
As a culminating activity, a conference is held at the Eagleton Institute of Politics for representatives from New Brunswick High School. The day-long conference involves exploring youth political participation and the “Millennial Generation”; revisiting the lessons learned in the classroom regarding avenues of civic engagement; and offering practical suggestions to young people not only interested in community involvement but in assuming leadership positions in New Brunswick.
- Student Leader Training
The RU Ready team of Rutgers students mentors NBHS’s student council and guides them as they continue to build their student government. Work with the NBHS student council includes providing leadership training and assisting the student council as they craft a constitution, hold elections, and organize service projects.
- RU Ready, Taking the Next Step
This initiative offers a post-RU Ready experience for both NBHS students who have experienced the program and the Rutgers students who have worked on RU Ready. The purposes are: to maintain connections among the young people who have gone through RU Ready; to offer a support system to young graduates of New Brunswick High School as they assume the responsibilities of civic engagement; to continue to be a resource for useful information about community involvement; and to train these residents of New Brunswick to assume leadership positions within the community.
New Brunswick High School students at the Youth Leadership Training, October 19th, 2010.
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