May 15, 2021 9:15p
(WGTD)---UW-Parkside believes it’s making progress in getting students to become more engaged in the community and the political process. Lately, the school is doing so with the help of the Andrew Goodman Foundation, a national organization that specializes in getting young people more familiar with politics and registered to vote.
In 2015, Parkside adopted a civic action plan. "Parkside has always had as one of its main missions community engagement," said Parkside Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies Peggy James on a recent edition of Community Matters. "We've always been interested in working with the community and helping our students to become active citizens," James said.
Last year, the Foundation stepped in to supplement existing efforts by providing new resources, training and stipends for two students to become Andrew Goodman Ambassadors, as they’re called. Among other things, the students staffed voter registration tables. The idea was to provide a student-to-student connection and offer one-on-one help.
One of the Ambassadors, Alisson Anguiano-Salas, a Parkside junior who wants to go to law school, spoke of her experience in getting students involved in the recent non-partisan spring election. Some students didn’t know how to go about getting information on the various races and issues. "It's something that maybe people don't think is an issue but from my experience as an ambassador I saw it multiple times," she said.
Parkside is able to track the percentage of its students who vote through another national organization that matches student enrollment and voting records, all information that’s available to the public.
James says data has shown that Parkside students are now voting at a rate that’s above the national average. Data for last year’s presidential election won’t be available until next year.
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