News Release:
February 3, 2003
            
Contact:
Mike Andrei
Director-College Relations
(716) 839-8472
            
Event Information:
Daemen Conference Office
(716) 839-8253
            


Value of Civic Engagement to be Discussed by Chairmen of Erie County Democratic, Republican Parties at Daemen College February 19th.

League of Women Voters Will Moderate Discussion
Erie County Democratic Chairman Leonard Lenihan and Erie County Republican Chairman Robert Davis will discuss the importance of civic engagement - with special emphasis on its value to young people - February 19 at Daemen College. The event, "Making Your Voice Heard: Tomorrow's Leaders - Today's Change Agents," will begin at 6 p.m. in Wick Center on the Daemen campus, and will be free and open to the public. The forum is sponsored by New York Campus Compact; the Education Fund for Greater Buffalo; The John R. Oishei Foundation; Erie 1 BOCES; the League of Women Voters Buffalo/ Niagara; and KeyBank USA.

"Making Your Voice Heard: Tomorrow's Leaders - Today's Change Agents" will take place during National Civic Engagement Week. Additionally, through a partnership with the Education Fund for Greater Buffalo and the Erie 1 BOCES Project 540 high school civic engagement program, Daemen will host 100 Buffalo public high school students who are leaders in their schools, to enable them to attend the event.

"It is our hope that this discussion will demonstrate the importance of being involved in government, and how working to improve our neighborhoods benefits everyone. One example of how these concepts are being put into action can be seen in Seneca Babcock in Buffalo, where Daemen students - and faculty - are working together to bring about positive changes in the lives of residents of that community." said Daemen College President Dr. Martin J. Anisman. "We are very pleased to be hosting this discussion at Daemen."

The Buffalo high schools whose students will be at the forum include Burgard Vocational High School; Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts; Kensington High School; Riverside Institute of Technology; and South Park High School. South Park is the site of the Daemen College Liberty Partnership Program, which provides a wide range of academic and social support for participating students, beginning with tutoring and homework assistance. Social support services include personal and family counseling, a Parents-are-Partners Program, career awareness, and building self-esteem. Among key goals of the program are increasing academic performance levels, enhancing students' self-image, and increasing school attendance.

Volunteers at the forum will staff tables with voter information to assist with voter registration for students aged 18 and older who wish to register to vote. A question-and-answer-period will conclude the evening's event.