Capitol Forum on America’s Future
(Choices Program)
Capitol Forum on America’s Future is a year-long civic education initiative
of the Choices Program at Brown University. Administered in Illinois by the
Illinois Humanities Council and drawing on the teaching resources of the
Choices Program, Capitol Forum raises international awareness and promotes
educated civic exchange among high school students statewide.
Participation in the Capitol Forum program educates Illinois high school
students about controversial international issues and difficult choices facing
America. Participating teachers receive Choices materials free for use in
the program. Guided by their social studies teachers, students read, analyze
and discuss core issues – nuclear proliferation, human rights/genocide,
immigration, global economy and environment – in preparation for a public
forum in Springfield, where they deliberate and debate these issues and other
concerns with peers from across the state. In their classrooms, students
research, analyze and deliberate their topics in preparation for the culminating
event, the Capitol Forum, in Springfield. There, in the Capitol’s House
Chamber, representatives from schools across the state engage in extended
dialogue with each other and with Illinois policy makers, and craft a “future”
direction for U.S. foreign policy in the 21st century. Immediately following the
Forum, teachers and delegates lead classmates in a review of the issues and
in completion of the Student Ballot on America’s Future, results of which are
compiled and sent to Illinois high schools, area media and state officials.
The Capitol Forum gives students of History, Government, World Affairs,
International Relations, Economics and American Studies a voice in
consideration of current U.S. foreign policy issues, and helps them develop
a foundation for long-term civic engagement.
Click to view Exemplar 2 >>