Axelrod to Students: “Steer Us to a Better Place.”
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ISSUE NO. 24 FALL 2015 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PAUL SIMON PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE 2015 Simon Poll™ Results - page 12 Sen. Simon Water for the World Act Axelrod to students: - page 16 “Steer us to a better place.” 15 Years of Youth David Axelrod, former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, spoke on April 13. Government Day Former senior presidential adviser persuaded Axelrod to leave his job as a - page 4 David Axelrod told Southern Illinois political reporter with the Chicago University students this spring: “If you Tribune to work for Paul’s 1984 don’t like what’s going on, you only campaign for the U.S. Senate. have one option and that is to get in “To Paul, politics was not a game. SIU Medical there and try to change things.” This is the way we grab the wheel of Student and “Democracy has certain history and steer it in the right Public Policy responsibilities attached to it,” he said. direction,” Axelrod said. - page 4 “Help steer us to a better place.” Axelrod also advised Simon Axelrod made his comments during the senator’s 1988 presidential before a crowd of more than 700 campaign and later fashioned a who attended the Morton-Kenney successful career as a political Director Public Affairs lecture sponsored by the strategist. He helped pilot Barack Felicia Norwood institute. Obama’s successful campaigns for the - page 13 The Chicago political strategist got U.S. Senate and the presidency before his start in politics when Paul Simon leaving the White -continued on pg. 13 WANT TO DONATE? HONOR ROLL OF DONORS - PAGE 8 • CHECK OUR STUDENT SPOTLIGHT STARTING ON PAGE 3! Congressman James E. Clyburn Dolores Huerta Assistant Democratic Leader Civil Rights Activist CONT. PG 12 CONT. PG 10 ISSUE 24 - 2015 A MESSAGE FROM THE SIMON FAMILY The Simon Times is printed for Though I have each year since the beginning – a solid supporters and friends of the been involved with endorsement! Paul Simon Public Policy Institute the institute’s board I had the honor of giving this large at SIU Carbondale. since Dad’s passing group some early morning welcoming almost a dozen years remarks in the House chamber. Though All content is provided by ago, I recently had a they all seemed a bit sleepy and shy at the institute staff and University unique experience start, what I witnessed over the course of Communications. that served as a the morning and into the afternoon was a reminder of how group of interested and articulate young All photographs are provided by wonderfully well the folks at the Simon people that embraced the opportunity to University Communications and Institute are doing at keeping my father’s see up close how their government really institute staff unless otherwise spirit alive. works (or is at least supposed to work!). noted. While on an institute fundraising trip Perhaps equally important, if not to Chicago this spring, I detoured down more so, I witnessed the oblique lessons If you would like a digital copy of to Springfield to take in the annual Youth learned as girls from a Catholic school on the newsletter or additional copies, Government Day festivities. “YGD” is one Chicago’s north shore sat side-by-side boys please visit of the institute’s most popular programs from the Metro-East area near St. Louis, www.paulsimoninstitute.org/ Dad initiated and has flourished in the all focused on the remarks being made by a publications. years since. young legislator from rural, central Illinois For the unfamiliar, YGD brings a – people from very different worlds, diverse group of high school students from joined in common interest and purpose, CONTACT US AT: across the state to the Capitol building learning together. each year for an inspirational day of face- The institute’s mission statement Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Mail Code 4429 to-face interaction with lawmakers and references three areas of focus, the last SIU Carbondale policy stakeholders, providing these youths of which is, “Promoting responsible 1231 Lincoln Drive with the opportunity to truly feel what it is citizenship for all Americans – but Carbondale, IL 62901 like to sit in the seats of power. This year’s particularly for young Americans.” bunch totaled nearly 200! Youth Government Day hits that nail Tel: 618/453-4009 Many of the schools and their on the head! Fax: 618/453-7800 chaperones have been bringing groups Martin Simon, chair, [email protected] Board of Counselors www.paulsimoninstitute.org STAFF NEWS: COMINGS AND GOINGS FOLLOW US AT: In 2015, the institute welcomed one of Geography and Environmental new addition to the staff, while seeing two Resources. /paulsimoninstitute others move into new university roles. Previously, she worked as the Celia M. /psimoninstitute In May, Shiloh Howard Fellow at the institute and as the /paulsimoninstitute Deitz filled the Master’s Research Fellow at SIU, where coordinator/ she has conducted work on community researcher position development, disaster management, Don’t forget to check out the vacated by Vanessa immigration, environmental health and institute’s Facebook and Twitter Sneed, who became walkability. pages for event reminders, more the director of the She and her husband, Thomas, also an photos, and links to media Office of University SIU student, reside in Carbondale. mentions and new opportunities. Events and Protocol Sandy Lanzi, our part-time accountant, for the Office of the has also moved into a new university Check out our YouTube page to Chancellor at SIU Carbondale. position. Lanzi now works in the Office see past event and conference Deitz holds a Master of Arts in of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for sociology and is working on a Master Academic Affairs. videos. of Science from the SIU Department 2 THE INSTITUTE’S STUDENT SPOTLIGHT CELEBRATING STUDENT SUCCESS SINCE 1997 THE ALEXANDER LANE INTERN - BRIONE LOCKETT 2015-2016 The Alexander Lane Internship Program political process, and communicate and CELIA M. HOWARD was developed at the institute to honor the network in an environment at all levels of FELLOW NAMED contribution and legacy of Alexander Lane, state government,” Lockett said. SIU’s first African-American male graduate. Lockett said he enjoyed learning about Sarah Miranti has been named the Brione Lockett is the third Alexander the public health field and the challenges 2015-16 Celia M. Howard Fellow at the Lane intern and worked with Speaker of it faces in state politics. “I was given the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. the House Michael Madigan on his issues opportunity to help out with the Illinois Miranti has spent the past five years development staff during the spring session. Department of Public Health Women’s providing direct services to youth He is also a recipient of the Mike Lawrence Conference in Peoria, Illinois,” Lockett throughout the southern Illinois region - Scholarship. explained. “I learned about public health most recently During his internship, he met regularly subtopics such as domestic violence, cancer, working as an with a host of legislators and researched air quality, disease and infant mortality outreach legislation that included topics such as rates. So in the future I plan on studying specialist with education, incarceration and health care. more about public health and possibly the Illinois “With the opportunities provided to working in this field.” Lockett is a senior at Student me by the internship, I had a great hands- SIU Carbondale from Rolling Meadows, Assistance on experience to learn more about the Illinois, majoring in history. Commission. She is now pursuing a master’s in public administration to further her ability to serve the region. She received her bachelor’s degree cum laude in 2010 from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, with a degree in peace, conflict and global studies. “The institute is a great place to learn (l-r) Brione Lockett and Adrian Miller on the first day of their internships. more about public service right here in THE GENE CALLAHAN INTERN - ADRIAN MILLER southern Illinois. The Celia M. Howard Fellowship gives me the opportunity to Adrian Miller was the inaugural Gene issues that impact Illinois gave me great research and learn about important issues Callahan Intern for the institute. During his insight into what it’s like to be an elected while I continue my education at SIU,” internship, Miller also worked for Speaker official,” Miller said. He plans to attend Miranti said. of the House Michael Madigan on his graduate school for a master’s of public Institute Director David Yepsen sees issues development staff. administration. Miller is a senior at SIU the fellowship program as furthering the Miller assisted in staffing the 71 state Carbondale from Carbondale, Illinois, institute’s mission. “At the institute we representatives in the Democratic Caucus majoring in political science. seek to provide groups of young people by performing tasks that included writing The program has been renamed in that are underrepresented in politics with press releases and working on legislation. honor of the late Gene Callahan by Jerry opportunities to become engaged citi- He also worked on a variety of projects Mileur, a southern Illinois native who zens. This fellowship is important because for the issues staff, including assisting holds two degrees from SIU Carbondale it gives women experience with policy legislators with constituent outreach. and endowed the Morton-Kenney Public and political issues while they are still in “Working on several projects for the Affairs Lecture Series at SIU. Like school,” he said. legislators and the speaker allowed me the Callahan, Mileur served on the institute’s The Celia M. Howard Fellowship is opportunity to see how the work behind Board of Counselors.