Glee’s Darren Criss and KIIS FM join Rock the Vote in Launching National “Democracy Day”

WHAT: Rock the Vote along with Darren Criss, from Fox’s hit show Glee, will join Alexander Hamilton High School students in the classroom to launch “Democracy Class” – a national high school civics program. Democracy Class is a one-class-period program that uses pop culture, video, a classroom discussion and a mock election to teach young people the skills to navigate the elections process and engage as active citizens.(www.democracyclass.com)

In partnership with the National Education Association, Rock the Vote is celebrating March 23rd as Democracy Day, asking educators across the country to teach Rock the Vote’s Democracy Class lesson plan to students in a massive push towards civic engagement.
Coinciding with the launch event in Los Angeles, in every state across the country more than 820 educators have signed up to participate and in California alone we have more than 130 schools participating in the Democracy Day celebration. For more information on Democracy Day check out the press room HERE.
The classroom presentation will be followed by an after school rally with KIIS FM’s DJ Drew.
 

WHO: Darren Criss from Fox’s hit mega series, Glee; Rock the Vote President Heather Smith; Alexander Hamilton High School Principal, Gary Garcia; Hamilton High School students and teachers,; LA’s #1 hit music station, KIIS FM.

WHEN: March 23, 2011

Program as follows:
1:00- 1:30 pm  Rock the Vote Rally with KIIS FM DJ Drew
1:35- 3:00 pm  Democracy Class w/ Rock the Vote and Darren Criss
3:03 pm  Rock the Vote Rally with KIIS FM DJ Drew 

WHERE:
Alexander Hamilton High School
2955 S. Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034

BACKGROUND:
Democracy Day is a partnership between Rock the Vote and the National Education Association, enabling educators, student organizations, youth groups and after-school programs to bring Rock the Vote’s Democracy Class program to Los Angeles.

The first annual Democracy Day launch marks the 40th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment, which gave 18-year-olds the right to vote. Educators and students worked together, and in doing so they amended the Constitution and empowered millions of American citizens to have a say in our democracy.

Please RSVP in advance to media@rockthevote.com, media check-in will be in Room 502.

For more information: http://www.democracyday.com

 



About Democracy Class | www.democracyclass.com

Rock the Vote’s Democracy Class program is designed to educate and excite high school students about voting, elections and governance. This nonpartisan lesson plan uses music, pop culture, video, classroom discussion and a mock election to teach young people the skills to navigate the elections process and engage as active citizens. In 2011, which marks the 40th anniversary of the 26th Amendment that gave 18-year-olds the right to vote, Rock the Vote is working with national and local partners to announce Democracy Day asking educators and organizations to bring Democracy Class to students. For more information visit democracyclass.com or democracyday.com.

 

About Rock the Vote | www.rockthevote.org

Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build political power for young people in our country. Using music, popular culture, new technologies and grassroots organizing for more than 20 years, Rock the Vote has registered more than 5 million young people, including a record-shattering 2.5 million registration downloads in the historic 2008 election. In 2010, Rock the Vote logged more than 300,000 voter registration downloads as part of the largest midterm election outreach strategy in our organization’s history. As the tidal wave of Millennial generation voters continues to establish its power at the polls, Rock the Vote will register millions more young people and make their voices heard. In 2011, Rock the Vote will lead the charge toward making our electoral process more accessible to young people through our high school civics program, Democracy Class, by rallying young people to stop unfair registration laws, and educating prospective 2012 candidates on how to incorporate young people in their campaigns.