The Institute for Practical Democracy's Mission

The Mission . . . I.P.D.'s mission is a comprehensive, democratic/civic leadership development pipeline with a multicultural, multi-racial community of participants, staff, volunteers and supporters.
I.P.D. is dedicated to help youth and their families gain the skills for leading in our multicultural, multiracial democracy today and in the future. We are especially dedicated to newcomers to America, many of whom have refugee/immigrant backgrounds.
By August, 2000, we had worked with more than 100 high school youths. Thirty of those have graduated high school and enrolled in college. Overall, about 90 percent of I.P.D. graduates enroll in college. Our greatest success is to have developed a multicultural, multiracial community network for our youth. This includes academic support, role models, leadership development and community participation opportunities. These young people continue to make connections to the mainstream opportunities of living in Maine, through our community network. This includes I.P.D. supporters, friends, parents and I.P.D. alumni. This developing leadership pool has a positive impact on Portland.

"A Multicultural Network Support System and Community" . . . This is how Dr. Phyllis Rogers, cultural anthropologist and I.P.D. project scholar describes where I.P.D. has arrived, five years after it began. One of I.P.D.'s founders, Dr. Rogers gave a presentation to the first I.P.D. retreat youth, that included a history of multicultural, multiracial America. This was the first time many young people, speaking about 25 languages, including English, had heard about the historical, multicultural roots and connections of the many peoples that historically make up the United States. It also helped those whose recent family roots were in the U.S., to view their newcomer peers in positive ways, as well as better understand the evolution and strength of America. This presentation prepared a foundation for the multicultural, multiracial, multilingual I.P.D. where people are inspired to believe in themselves as participants in our resilient democracy and to view themselves as beneficiaries of all its assets and legacies.

I.P.D. Students have . . .
     Continued on to college. 15 I.P.D. students started college in the fall of 2000.
     Participated & facilitated at Southern Maine and state-wide conferences and discussion groups.
     Received training in Roundtable Discussion facilitation. Facilitated youth summits in the greater Portland community, including the YWCA's Week Without Violence.
     Organized their own city-wide, " Student Roundtable Study Circle" events. Started community groups, volunteered in soup kitchens, collaborated with the Boys and Girls Clubs to help youth issues.

and also have . . .
      Competed in and won city-wide scholarship competitions & community recognition awards.
     Connected to a national youth organization through the National Crime Prevention Council, where one I.P.D. student participated in & presented at national conferences.
     Spent their college vacations working & being role models in their Portland communities, including campership programs & counseling, youth programs, internships.
     Developed projects to help their peers and the communities of Portland.
     Developed Alumni projects, carrying them out to benefit Communities in Greater Portland.

Recognition . . . This Spring, I.P.D. received a "National Merit Award" from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and regional Award of Excellence, for the year 2000. We entered this competition as part of our successful collaboration with Portland Housing Authority in working with youth living in public housing communities. This award recognizes outstanding innovation & achievement in housing & community development programs throughout the country.
In 1997-98 I.P.D. received a "Community Leadership Award" from the Council of Churches and the Roundtable Center of Maine.
In 1999 I.P.D. was awarded the "Seeds of Peace Award" by Peace Action Maine.

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