Annual Report 2017
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Annual Report 2017 1 Mission The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. “The Constitution does not just protect those he Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is the leading destination for hands-on civic education for students and families across the whose views we share; it also protects those Tregion. We provide day-long educational programs on civic engagement to over with whose views we disagree.” 20,000 students each year. We continue to teach the essential skills of compromise and healthy debate as we convene bipartisan conversations with thought leaders – Senator Edward M. Kennedy from across the country, and as we leverage art and technology to inspire civic engagement and reach learners where they are. This Annual Report shares some of the highlights of the important work accomplished in 2017, a year of continued growth, development, and expansion. • The Institute’s signature program, the Senate Immersion Model (SIM), received a prestigious THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Connected Immersion in Education category. The THEA Awards were created by the Themed Entertainment Association to bring recognition to achievement, talent and personal excellence within the themed entertainment industry. • We hosted important political leaders like United States Senator Bernie Sanders and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy. We facilitated public dialogues on topics ranging from the history and future planning of Boston to the nation’s opioid epidemic. • The Institute recognized Secretary John Kerry with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Public Service at the institute’s Annual Dinner. When we opened our doors in 2015, we did so with the steady guidance of the Institute’s president, Jean MacCormack, Ed.D. It is fitting that in 2017, Jean was recognized by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Leduc Center for Civic Engagement with the Community Member Civic Leadership Award. The Award honors community members who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to civic engagement. The Institute is grateful for Jean’s wise leadership and for all that she did to build a foundation for our future success. We also want to thank the team at the Institute for their inspired and passionate work. Our government of the people, by the people, and for the people can function as our founders intended only if we are engaged and informed citizens. The Kennedy Institute is committed now more than ever to meet that mission. James J. Karam Victoria Reggie Kennedy Chair of the Board President of the Board 5 PATRIOT Act, the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Food Policy, and Immigration Reform. By playing an active role in a simulated Senate session, participants develop an understanding of the structures 310 and processes of government, gain knowledge of historic or current issues of schools national importance, and practice civic skills needed by responsible citizens. The Senate Immersion Module showcases the Institute’s commitment to immersive learning experiences 20,114 where participants take on active roles in a simulated environment. National students experts have identified experiential learning elements – where students or panel discussions, or taking part in practice the arts and habits of civic life role-playing (17% and 7%, respectively). – to be essential in preparing students for college, career, and civic life. The immersive learning experiences at However, according to the 2014 National the Kennedy Institute also reflect the Assessment of Educational Progress, latest research in game-based learning. Learning by Doing while 65% of 8th grade students This research has shown that adding a reported reading material from a he senators file into the Senate Senate Immersion Module (SIM), an game narrative to a simulated learning textbook, only 49% of students reported Chamber with its grand domed experiential education program in which experience layers on motivation for the T discussing current events. Even fewer ceiling and take their seats at the students take on the role of Senators participants which solidifies skills and students reported taking part in debates wooden desks arranged in a semi- to study issues, debate, negotiate, and prolongs the ability to retain information circle of rows around a podium. After vote on legislation. The SIM, a 2.5-hour and make use of it in other contexts. being called to order, they take turns immersive experience, takes place in “Our students had an incredible time at the SIM last delivering impassioned speeches, a full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate week. Even students who are often very skeptical The Kennedy Institute’s Senate Chamber debating the merits of the bill under Chamber and employs live actors, gaming of putting themselves out there really enjoyed it, is the setting for other simulated and consideration. Each senator has principles, and mobile technology to help and I had students tell me they never knew how immersive learning experiences, too, such carefully studied the legislation with students fully engage in the role-play. complex the legislative process is, and that they have as Today’s Vote, a program for visitors his or her personal, state, and national a renewed interest in the process now. Three things I of all ages to learn about and debate an interests in mind. Finally, the roll is The Kennedy Institute has a library of heard consistently from students: they had fun, they issue currently before the United States learned a lot, and they wanted to do it again!” called and each senator casts a vote. available SIM programs that focus on a Senate, and Great Senate Debates, a range of historic and current-day issues, Max McCollough theatrical, multimedia performance for In this case, the “senators” are 8th including: the Compromise of 1850, City on a Hill visitors to experience some of the great through 12th grade students participating Reconstruction, World War I Domestic March 17, 2017 oratory delivered in the Senate Chamber in the Edward M. Kennedy Institute’s Policy, the 2011 renewal of the USA throughout U.S history. 6 7 Partnerships for Creative Civic Expression dward M. Kennedy Institute that turns their artistic skills and Eexhibitions amplify the profound expressions into commissioned pieces connection between civic and artistic for local clients. The Institute worked expression. Of particular importance in with AFH artists on a piece entitled 2017, were partnerships that encourage “Immerica,” a collaborative mural that young people to give voice to their civic incorporates the faces of its diverse ideas and concerns through the arts, artists, many of who are immigrants whether through spoken word poetry, to America, and invites all people to collaborative art-making, or creating see how America is most beautiful participatory arts projects that involve when viewed as a blend of diverse our visitors to the Institute. backgrounds, stories, dreams, and futures. The mural invites Kennedy One such partnership is with the Institute visitors to color in sections of nonprofit organization Massachusetts the art piece, and contribute a piece of Literary Education and Performance themselves to this diverse portrait. (MassLEAP), a Boston-based group of writer-educators and young people Sharing the important theme of dedicated to building and supporting immigration and its profound impact on spaces for youth to experience the the United States is the collaborative transformative power of their own mural that is on loan to the Kennedy voices in community with one another. Institute from Boston International The Institute first hosted the semi-finals Newcomers Academy (BINcA). BINcA of MassLEAP’s Louder Than a Bomb is a Dorchester-based Boston Public Massachusetts Youth Poetry Slam Festival School that is comprised of adolescent in 2016, and repeated the event in April Boston residents who are also 2017. The slam gives young people a immigrants. These students marked the real and metaphorical stage upon which 2017 Presidential Inauguration with a to spotlight their poetry and amplify special civics celebration, Democracy their civic expression, and expands the Day, which included a workshop Kennedy Institute’s support of civic where over 140 students contributed engagement in all forms. rectangular paper “blocks” to a giant series of murals depicting the Statue of In 2017, the Institute had a second Liberty and featuring Emma Lazurus’ highly successful artistic installation in sonnet, “The New Colossus.” These partnership with Artists for Humanity murals are on display at the Institute and (AFH) a Boston-based nonprofit are a profound reminder of the impact organization dedicated to providing that immigration policy has on local teens with training and employment community members and the nation. 8 9 Schools benefiting 2016-2017 school year Academy of the Pacific Rim, Hyde Park Attleboro High School, Attleboro Auburn High School, Auburn Boston International Newcomers Academy, Dorchester Chittick Elementary, Boston City on a Hill, Roxbury Clark Avenue School, Chelsea Curley K-8, Jamaica Plain Friedman Middle School, Taunton Forestdale School, Malden Henry Grew Elementary, Hyde Park Joyce Kilmer, Boston Moody Elementary, Lowell Lowell High