600 Former Drop-Outs Converge On Daley Plaza For Voter Registration Drive

What:

Hundreds of former dropouts will converge on Daley Plaza to drive home the importance of voter registration for this year's presidential election. Students from Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS), a 22-campus citywide school that serves re-enrolled students will register students to vote in Daley Plaza to ensure their voices are heard on Election Day.

Registering at tables on the Plaza during an old fashion campaign event featuring a host of local elected officials, students will then march boxes of completed registration forms across the street to the County Registrar's Office. Sending a message that their voice counts, elected officials will be reminded to consider this young adult constituency when making policy decisions around education, employment, public safety, transportation and other key issues.

The final day for in-person voter registration is Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Who:

Speakers joining hundreds of registered students from YCCS include (In-Progress):

• Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter (3rd District)
• Illinois State Representative Ken Dunkin (5th District)
• Illinois State Representative Arthur Turner (9th District)
• Youth Connection Charter Schools Students
• Sheila Venson, Executive Director, Youth Connection Charter School

When:

Noon – 1 p.m.

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

Where: 

Richard J. Daley Center Plaza, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL

Why:

Graduating more than 12,000 high school students since 1997, YCCS, is the leading provider of alternative education programs in Chicago with a mission to advocate, develop, and provide world‐class education to students at risk and high school dropouts. YCCS' model promotes values like integrity, excellence, respect, leadership, responsibility, commitment and courage.  Voter registration that encourages civic engagement is a part of YCCS' commitment to building an engaged and educated citizenry.  For more information, please visit www.yccs.us