The goal of SIMVote2009 is to work with students and faculty members of individual high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools to develop and implement this program on campus, educating and empowering students to become more civically engaged. We will provide each participating schools “Campus Leaders” with training on how to successfully implement this program, as well as provide support to participating schools every step of the way. Through workshops on elections and democracy, interactive activities, which utilize the Arsalyn Program’s Democracy in Action curriculum, and introductory seminars, the students will engage with the issues that drive elections, the processes of holding elections and the issues that affect elections in our democracy. My favorite part of this project is that it is intended to be flexible - each school can decide whether to incorporate SIMVote into many days of curriculum, just one day centered on a SIMElection, as a student club on campus, or in any form that fits each schools’ needs best. Here is a list of elements that have been previously incorporated into SIMVote: SIMElection: we will provide personalized ballots designed to fit the needs of each school, SIMRegistration Drives, Student-led workshops taught to peers, to younger students, and to community groups, Teacher-led workshops incorporated into classroom curriculum, Guest speakers including local candidates and their staff to speak to issues driving elections, A voting “field day” in which students campus-wide participate in various activities to promote civic engagement, and Service projects: both student-led and teacher-led. For more info: katie@mobilize.org