After a keynote speech by former US Congressman Max Rose, students engaged in panel discussions and breakout sessions related to the overarching question of why someone who cannot yet legally vote should care about the Constitution and its principles. Topics included the Supreme Court, the First Amendment, the role of the United States military within our constitutional structure, criminal procedure, the role of the Constitution in middle and high school education, and the role of municipal government within our national framework. Guest speakers included journalists, elected officials, attorneys, educators, judges, current and former military, and political scientists, with several Dalton alums and parents among them. 

A young alum panel gave our students an opportunity to interact with three recent graduates who are involved in different aspects of government and policy work: Alexandra Lehman ‘19, Lulu Saghie ‘19, and Sara Solomon ‘18.

Students who participated in experiential learning trips spent the afternoon exploring real-world civic engagement at three partner organizations: the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Citizens’ Committee for Children, and the New York Common Pantry.

At the ACLU, lawyers led a dynamic conversation on civil liberties in the digital age and shared pathways for young people to get involved in advocacy and civic action. At the Citizens’ Committee for Children, facilitators guided students through activities that helped them examine advocacy in their own communities, culminating in applying their learning to real-world policymaking and outreach to elected officials. A third group headed to the New York Common Pantry, where students assembled more than 500 utensil packages before touring the facility and learning about the organization’s vital role in addressing food insecurity across the city.

The afternoon gave students firsthand experience in how organizations create impact, how they, too, can be active participants in shaping change, and why they should care about the constitution.