The Junior Statesmen Foundation

The Junior Statesmen Foundation runs nonpartisan civic education programs for high school students. Our mission is to help high school students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to be effective leaders, statesmen and voters by developing leadership skills through active participation.

During the summer, outstanding high school leaders attend one of five academically challenging Junior Statesmen Summer Schools, held on campus at Georgetown, Princeton, Yale, Stanford and Northwestern Universities. The core curriculum for the programs include college level courses in American Government and Speech Communications, a legislative style debate practicum, and a speakers program featuring prominent figures from politics, journalism and academia. The Summer Schools are complemented by five Symposia on state and local government in California, Washington, New Jersey, Ohio and Los Angeles.

During the academic school year, The Junior Statesmen Foundation supports the activities of the high school student-run Junior State of America (JSA). On over 500 campuses across the country, JSA "chapters" educate and involve students through public policy debates, current events discussions, guest speaker sessions, voter registration drives and other political awareness activities. Each year, 10,000 students participate in one of JSA's 35 weekend and day-long conventions which are planned and run by its student leaders.

Achievements

The Junior Statesmen Foundation and JSA achieved an extraordinary level of student participation in 2004. Our focus on election year activities began with a series of student-run "Presidential Nominating Conventions" during the height of the presidential primary season. In the summer, over 300 students attended our educational programs held in conjunction with the Democratic and Republican National Party Conventions in Boston and New York. JSA's "Debate Watch 2004" involved over 1,000 students from 80 different schools gathered in living rooms, pizza parlors and school libraries who watched the second presidential debate, discussed the substance and style of the candidates and participated in an opinion poll. Right before the election, JSA sponsored "Election 2004" conferences in nine cities where students met and questioned representatives of the Kerry and Bush campaigns, organized their own mock campaigns for the candidates and cast votes for the candidate of their choice.

Goals

In the immediate future, our focus on civic engagement through enlightened political discourse continues. Events planned include our successful model "Congress" conventions in six cities and conventions focusing on America's foreign policy and international issues. A highlight of the Spring 2005 semester will be conferences featuring student debates on critical decisions in U.S. History, themed "Reflections on the Past; Lessons for the Future."

Contact Information

Jeff Harris
Senior Program Director
The Junior Statesmen Foundation
400 S. El Camino Real # 300
San Mateo, CA 94402
Phone: (800) 334-5353
Fax: (650) 347-7200
Email: jharris@jsa.org Website: www.jsa.org