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MEDIA ADVISORY: Emerging Leaders Conference to Offer Legislative Leadership Opportunities to High School Students

June 27th, 2017

Story Contact: Nathan Hurst, 573-882-6217, hurstn@missouri.edu

WHAT: Approximately 70 rising Missouri high school sophomores, juniors and seniors will experience leadership in the legislative process as participants of the Emerging Leadership Conference, which is co-sponsored by the University of Missouri Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity and the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation.

Participants will learn about 11 bills, including one from the current Missouri special legislative session. They then will select three of the bills to debate on the Capitol floor. Students will be housed on the Mizzou campus and will work closely with university administrators, professors, doctoral and undergraduate students, and state legislators throughout the three-day program. The conference also will feature a college preparation workshop led by Mizzou Admissions, a campus tour and student-mentor advising sessions.

WHO:

Speakers include:

  • Bruce Franks, Jr., D-St. Louis, Missouri House of Representatives
  • Kevin McDonald, MU interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity, and UM System chief diversity officer
  • Pat Ivey, assistant vice chancellor for access and leadership development, MU Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity

Several state legislators will join the students for portions of the program, including:

  • Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, Missouri House of Representatives; minority floor leader and Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation president
  • Bruce Franks, Jr., D-St. Louis, Missouri House of Representatives
  • Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, Missouri State Senate
  • Alan Green, D-Florissant, Missouri House of Representatives
  • Tommie Pierson, Jr, D-St. Louis, Missouri House of Representatives

WHEN & WHERE:

Media are invited to attend the following conference sessions:

  • Opening session featuring McDonald, Ivey and Franks – 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25, Tate Hall, MU Campus
  • Legislative panels and debates with state legislators – 12 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Monday, June 26, State Capitol, Jefferson City
  • College preparation workshop with Mizzou Admissions – 8 – 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 27, Memorial Union, MU Campus

NOTE: If media wish to attend these events, please contact Nathan Hurst, hurstn@missouri.edu, at least 4 hours before the event begins.

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