Kids Voting Mecklenburg County Information Session December 11, 2006

1. Kids Voting Mecklenburg CountyInformation SessionDecember 11, 2006

2. Overview • Nonprofit, nonpartisan (501c3) • National organization: Kids Voting USA • Based in Tempe, AZ - moving HQ to Washington in 2007 • Affiliates in 26 states • KV Mecklenburg one of largest successful programs • KVUSA growth strategy 2006-2016

3. What does Kids Voting do? • Educates K-12 students about • Citizenship • Civic Involvement • Election Process • Through • Classroom Lessons • Community Civic Activities • Interaction with Public Officials • Authentic Election Experiences

4. Mecklenburg County Impact • Available to all K-12 students • 200 Schools • Approx. 6,000 classrooms and teachers • 2,500 volunteers • Parents, PTAs, Public Officials • Over 27,000 voters in Election 2006 • Kids Voting has invested $1.5 Million in local civic education since 1992

5. History: 1992-1996 • National organization • Rolfe Neill (Former Observer publisher) • Brought KV to Charlotte and NC in 1992 • Knight Foundation, others = seed funding • 1996: Raleigh and Greensboro • Kids Voting of North Carolina formed in 1997 to manage expansion

6. History: 1997-2000 • Election programs, curriculum, teacher training and various events • 1999 - Amy Farrell joins Kids Voting to direct development and community relations • Funding sources diversified and expanded • KV experiences internal challenges with financial management and planning • Amy Farrell hired as ED in 2001

7. History: 2001-2006 • Complete reorganization • Board and program review and strengthening • Expanding and adding programs directly related to core mission; cut others • Reorganization of BOD; expanding in 2007 • Increasing and strengthening partnerships • Raising profile within community • Prelim. strategic planning with Anne Udall • Lee Institute/Daughter of Senator Mo Udall • Participate in Building Better Boards Phase I • Establishing cash reserve

8. Kids Voting: Governance • Currently 10 members • Expanding to 18-21 members by 2008 • Leadership • Interim Chair - Mack Gadsden • Vice Chair, Finance/Operations - Lillian McRae • Vice Chair, Governance - Doug Benson • Position open effective 1/1/2007 • Vice Chair, Programs/Outreach - Corby Anderson • Each vice chair leads a committee

9. Kids Voting: Governance • Committee Structure • Finance & Operations • Finance and Business Operations • Oversee Resource Development • Governance • Nominating • Board Development • Legal • Programs • Classroom and Community Education & Election • Special Events/Outreach • Youth Engagement

10. Kids Voting: Finance & Operations • 2006 Budget = $130,000 • Approximately $1 per student • Funding sources • Government • Foundation • Corporate • Individual • Inkind • 90%+ allocated to programs

11. Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach • In the Classroom • Classroom lessons provided to 6,000 teachers in K-12 • National curriculum: Classroom Activities • Alignment to NC Standard Course of Study in K-8 math, language arts and social studies, World History, Civics & Economics and US History • Local teacher’s guide • Variety of civic education materials • Kids Voting School Representatives • Leadership role designated by principal • Attend teacher training and receive credit for work • Coordinate Kids Voting at their schools • School partnerships and relationships • Continual evaluation, assessment and strengthening

12. Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach • In the Community • Ongoing civic activities for students including • Mecklenburg Youth Voice • Special initiative of KV - high school students meet regularly to discuss student issues; meets bimonthly with Dr. Peter Gorman • Youth Civics 101 • Partnership with League of Women Voters • Teens visit and learn about government • Organization of youthevents • Candidate Forum for Youth • Youth Forum with CMS Task Force and visit to Superintendent Forum • Visits to government meetings

13. Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach • In the Community (continued) • Interaction with Public Officials • Coordinate school visits with officials • Visits to Government Center, courthouse, Observer, etc. • Partnerships and Collaborations • Community Outreach and Media Relations • Local newspapers • Interviewed on Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins, The John Hancock Show and others; WBT Hometown Hero • State and national recognition

14. Kids Voting: Programs & Outreach • Experiencing Elections • NC legislation allows KV to operate where adults vote • Students experience elections and vote on Kids Voting ballots - same races as adult voters plus student questions • Available to all students - variety of options • Online Voting - Accenture - National Partner in e-voting • Early Voting in libraries - Future partnership with library? • Voting in Election Day Precincts • Voting “absentee” at school • Service-learning - approx. 2,000 student poll volunteers • 27,000+ student voters in Election 2006 • 40,000+ in Election 2004 • Over 250,000 since 1992

15. Kids Voting: Challenges • Adult voter and civic apathy • Regional economy • Changing school strategies and populations • Growth • Competition with other programs • Technology • Raising $ and awareness for an educational program vs. a charity

16. Kids Voting: Goals • Excite kids about voting and civics • Create regional opportunities • Address changing school strategies and populations • Expand programs and service area • Identify and strengthen key strategic partnerships & alliances • Use technology to enhance KV’s programs, efficiency and effectiveness • Develop resources and raise awareness needed to fulfill Kids Voting’s mission

17. Contact Kids Voting • Mack Gadsden, Chair • MAGadsden@uspis.gov • 704-329-9137 (office); 704-560-4648 (cell) • Amy Farrell, Executive Director • amy@kidsvoting.org • 704-343-6999 • Kids Voting office • 700 East Stonewall Street, Suite 710 • Charlotte NC, 28202