Purdue program shows high school students how to develop community solutions

Purdue’s College of Education is giving local high school students an opportunity to present solutions to community issues related to public policy.

Project Citizen is a program by the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship and area high schools. It promotes student participation in local and state government and the exploration of public policy.

This year, the Project Citizen event will feature students from Jefferson and Oakland high schools in Lafayette. The event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 6) in Stewart Center, Room 218AB. It is free and open to the public.

As part of the program, groups of students identify a public policy problem in their community, gather and evaluate information about the problem, examine potential solutions, select a solution and develop an action plan for implementing the solution. Student projects cover police training, animal control, public art and other community-based issues.

“Project Citizen is unique because it shows high school students how they can affect change in their community,” said Phil VanFossen, the J.F. Ackerman Distinguished Professor and director of the Ackerman Center. “This program affects change in issues that are critical to the Lafayette area and shows students that they can make a difference.”

During the showcase, each team of students will present its proposal and action plan for solving the issue through public policy. A panel of local community members and Purdue faculty, including State Representatives Sally Siegrist and Sheila Klinker and Judge Michael Morrissey, will evaluate the projects.